Patent ID: 7514254

Claim:
A method for reducing the capability of a foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion of said foodstuff comprising: (a) providing a non-glycosylated, naturally occurring plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase from a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, said alkaline alpha galactosidase comprising, (i) an alpha-galactosidase activity; (ii) a Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate raffinose at least 0.1 times that of the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate stachyose; (iii) optimal activity in the range of pH 7.0 to pH 8.0.; and (iv) a molecular mass of about 84 kDa; and, (b) contacting the foodstuff prior to ingestion with said plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the foodstuff; thereby reducing the capability of said foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion.