A powerful and applicable milk-clotting enzyme was extracted from the different wild Egyptian plant Silybum marianum parts. Seeds extract was the most efficient and exhibited the highest milk-clotting activity and the lowest proteolytic action. Partial purification of the enzyme seeds extract was performed by sequential and batch precipitation by different precipitating agents. The partially purified enzyme preparation was successfully applied on different fresh and dried milk specimens producing excellent milk curds.

Wael A. Elaily - MSc in Biochemistry, Cairo University.WORK:-Assistant Researcher at Pharmaceutical & Drug Industries Research Division, Chemistry of Natural & Microbial Products Dept., Industrial Enzymology Lab (Prof. Dr. Abdelmohsen Ismail group). National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo (Egypt).