- College of Ocean and Agricultural Engineering, Yantai Institute of China Agricultural University, Yantai, China
The increasing demand for natural flavor enhancers and functional food ingredients has driven interest in Lentinus edodes (shiitake mushrooms), which are rich in proteins and bioactive compounds. This study optimized the enzymatic hydrolysis of L. edodes using various proteases and response surface methodology. Single-factor experiments were conducted, and flavor protease was identified as the most effective enzyme. The optimal hydrolysis conditions were 50.268°C, 5.23% material ratio, and 223.64 kU/100 g protease dosage, with a predicted amino acid nitrogen raise ratio of 268.908%. Validation tests gave an average of 267.6 ± 0.7%, with <5% deviation. After hydrolysis, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine increased, enhancing umami and sweetness. Essential amino acids such as lysine, valine, and isoleucine also rose significantly. Antioxidant activity was confirmed by DPPH and ·O₂- scavenging, with IC₅₀ values of 2.536 and 2.013, respectively. These results demonstrate that enzymatic hydrolysis is a promising approach to improve both the taste and nutritional value of L. edodes, supporting its application in natural seasoning and functional food development.
1 Introduction
Global population growth and climate change challenge traditional food systems, with food demand projected to rise by 50% by 2050, thus raising expectations for the development and supply of bio-based proteins. Animal proteins are popular for their essential amino acids but impose a severe environmental burden, with livestock farming occupying 77% of agricultural land and accounting for over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions (Petrescu et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2023). Fungal proteins, due to their nutritional, physiological, and functional benefits, present a promising alternative protein source (Li et al., 2023).
Lentinus edodes, commonly known as the shiitake mushroom, is the most widely consumed edible fungus in China, prized for its nutritional and flavor qualities (Wang et al., 2017). It is also the second most cultivated edible mushroom globally, often referred to as the “Queen of Mushrooms” (Chen et al., 2017; Huang et al., 2019; Cui et al., 2022; Ahmad et al., 2023). Lentinus edodes contains a variety of nutritional compounds and bioactive substances, including polysaccharides, proteins, fibers, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, trace elements, ergosterol, and vitamins (B1, B2, C) (Li et al., 2014; Morales et al., 2020; Sheng et al., 2021), among others. Additionally, the 5′-nucleotides in L. edodes can mask salty, sour, bitter, and fishy tastes. Among these, 5′-guanylic acid, when added to amino acid-based flavor enhancers, can amplify umami intensity by dozens to hundreds of times, making it a renowned powerful flavor enhancer. These compounds not only contribute to the nutritional value of L. edodes but also enhance its unique flavor while providing physiological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifungal properties (Reis et al., 2017). Moreover, L. edodes protein is rich in both essential and non-essential amino acids (Xu et al., 2024). Its amino acid composition is comparable to that of animal protein (Gopal et al., 2022).
Various physical (Hwang et al., 2021) and chemical methods are commonly employed to process protein in L. edodes, including enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, chemical extraction, and synthesis (Chen et al., 2021; Prandi et al., 2023; Zhang L. et al., 2023; Zhu et al., 2023). However, physical disruption methods, such as mechanical grinding, ultrasound treatment, or pressure homogenization, often lead to denaturation or degradation of sensitive proteins (Krishnarjuna and Ramamoorthy, 2022). Chemical methods, including detergents or solvents, can dissolve cell wall components but may compromise protein activity or purity (Goldberg, 2021). Among these, enzymatic hydrolysis is a low-cost, safe, and environmentally friendly approach widely used in the food industry (Du et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2023). During protein hydrolysis, proteases recognize and bind to the R groups of amino acid residues on either side of the peptide bond via steric hindrance. Conformational changes in the R groups of certain amino acids lead to peptide bond cleavage (Datta et al., 2017). Consequently, L. edodes proteins can be degraded by cellulases and proteases into free peptides and amino acids, which significantly contribute to the mushroom’s unique flavor and taste profile (Gao J. et al., 2021). Additionally, the hydrolysates exhibit various bioactivities in vitro, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities (Agaricus bisporus and its by-products as a source of valuable extracts and bioactive compounds, 2019), effectively enhancing functional properties, and nutritional characteristics. There were some studies reported on the extraction and functional properties of edible fungi proteins, including those from Agaricus bisporus, and Stropharia rugosoannulata, etc. as well as the functional properties of L. edodes proteins (Ramos et al., 2019; Fang et al., 2022; Gao et al., 2024). However, few studies have employed data analysis methods to optimize the hydrolysis process of L. edodes.
In this study, L. edodes was used as the raw material, with amino acid nitrogen raise ratio as the key evaluation indicators. The extraction process of L. edodes protein was optimized using response surface methodology. The functional properties of L. edodes hydrolysate were analyzed, and its amino acid composition was evaluated. This research provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of high value-added L. edodes.
2 Results and discussion
2.1 Preparation of Lentinus edodes hydrolysate
2.1.1 Screening of proteases
The hydrolysis degree of L. edodes protein is related to the type of enzyme. The effect of different proteases on the amino acid nitrogen content of L. edodes enzymatic hydrolysates is shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the hydrolysis degree of different protease hydrolysates is significantly different (p < 0.05), among which the hydrolysis degree of flavor protease hydrolysates is extremely different from that of alkaline protease and acidic protease (p < 0.01). Flavor protease has the best hydrolysis effect. Compared with the control group without enzyme, the amino acid nitrogen content increased by an average of 176.8%; the hydrolysis effect of alkaline protease and acidic protease is relatively poor, and the amino acid nitrogen content increased by less than 40% compared with the control.
The selection of these three enzymes—acidic protease, alkaline protease, and flavor protease—was based on their differing optimal pH ranges and substrate specificities. Acidic protease (optimal pH 3–5) is effective for denatured protein hydrolysis; alkaline protease (optimal pH 9–11) is suitable for degrading structural proteins; while flavor protease (optimal pH 6–8) is widely used in food applications for producing taste-active peptides, including those contributing to umami and sweetness (Du et al., 2022; Fang et al., 2022). The superior performance of flavor protease in this study is likely attributed to its combined endo- and exopeptidase activity, which facilitates the release of small peptides and free amino acids.
Additionally, other proteases such as papain, bromelain, and neutrase have been re-ported to effectively hydrolyze plant or fungal proteins in other contexts, contributing to improved functional and flavor properties. These may serve as promising alternatives for future optimization (Wen et al., 2020).
Therefore, flavor protease was selected as the most suitable enzyme for enzymatic hydrolysis of L. edodes and applied in the following steps.
2.1.2 The effect of hydrolysis temperature
With the increase of temperature, the content of amino acid nitrogen showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing (p < 0.05), as shown in Figure 2A. The amino acid nitrogen raise ratio in the hydrolysis was the highest at 50°C, because the enzyme showed the highest enzymatic activity in the optimal temperature range. After 50°C, the content of amino acid nitrogen begins to decrease, because too high temperature will cause enzyme denaturation and inactivation. Therefore, in the response surface experiment, the enzymatic hydrolysis temperature is set at 50°C is the center value.

Figure 2. The optimization of parameters of L. edodes hydrolysis: (A) Hydrolysis temperature, (B) Material ratio, (C) Protease dosage, and (D) Hydrolysis time. Different letters in the same indicators indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).
2.1.3 The effect of material ratio
As shown in Figure 2B, as the proportion of the extract increases, the degree of hydrolysis gradually increases. When the material ratio reaches 1:20, the degree of hydrolysis is the highest. When the extract continues to increase, the degree of hydrolysis shows a downward trend. This is because the increase in the extract reduces the contact point between the substrate and the enzyme molecule, and the enzymatic efficiency decreases. When the substrate concentration is too high, the viscosity of the substrate affects the full contact between the enzyme and the substrate, and the enzymatic efficiency decreases. This corroborates Zhang et al.’s assertion that a low material ratio may lead to excessively high protein concentrations, which can affect the fluidity of the system and the interaction between the enzyme and substrate (Zhang Y. et al., 2023). Therefore, 1:20 is selected as the optimal material ratio for enzymatic hydrolysis of L. edodes.
2.1.4 The effect of protease dosage
When the addition amount increases from 120 kU/100 g to 240 kU/100 g, the degree of hydrolysis increases (Figure 2C); when the amount of enzyme added continues to increase, the degree of protein hydrolysis decreases. Therefore, 240 kU/100 g is selected as the optimal amount of protease added.
2.1.5 The effect of hydrolysis time
As shown in Figure 2D, the amino acid nitrogen content gradually increased with the extension of time. Before 1.5 h, the rising rate was relatively large (p < 0.05), and it tended to be flat before 2.5 h (p > 0.05) but still rose slowly, indicating that the enzymatic reaction was close to the end. This may be because the substrate concentration gradually decreased with the extension of time, and when the substrate was completely hydrolyzed, the enzymatic activity ended. Therefore, considering the cost factor and to avoid edge effects, the enzymatic hydrolysis time can be directly determined at 2 h.
2.2 Results of response surface experiment
There is a certain interaction between the various factors in the hydrolysis process. Referring to the results of single factors, three factors, namely, hydrolysis temperature, enzyme addition and material ratio, were selected to determine the optimal process. The central composite design was adopted to establish a mathematical model. The result analysis is shown in Tables 1, 2.
The equation shows the variation between the enzymatic amino acid content and each factor. The response surface results show that the p value of the model is less than 0.05, indicating that the model factor level terms are generally significant, the model level is extremely significant (p < 0.01), the F value of the lack of fit term is not significant, and the equation fit is good. The correlation coefficient R2 = 0.9200, that is, 92% of the response value changes can be represented by this model. Based on the above parameters, the experimental method is reliable, and the regression model can be used to analyze the experimental results instead of the actual experimental point.
2.2.1 Response surface analysis of interaction
As shown in Figure 3A and Figure 3a, it can be observed that when the material-to-liquid ratio is low or the temperature is relatively low, the contour lines are denser, while at higher temperatures or higher material-to-liquid ratios, the contour lines are more widely spaced. This secondly corroborates Zhang et al.’s assertion (Zhang Y. et al., 2023). Therefore, lower material-to-liquid ratios or lower temperatures have a more pronounced effect on the degree of hydrolysis, while higher temperatures or higher material ratios have a lesser impact.

Figure 3. The effect of the interaction between factors on amino acid nitrogen raise ratio. 3D surface graphs: (A) Temperature and Material Ratio, (B) Temperature and Protease Dosage, (C) Material Ratio and Protease Dosage; Contour graph: (a) Temperature and Material Ratio, (b) Temperature and Protease Dosage, (c) Material Ratio and Protease Dosage.
2.2.2 Predicted result and validation of the optimized hydrolysis process
The optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions for L. edodes were predicted through regression equations. It’s optimization yielded a material ratio of 5.23%, a temperature of 50.268°C, a protease dosage of 223.64 kU/100 g, and a predicted AAN raise ratio of 268.908%. Under the consideration of practical operability, the optimal extraction process was refined to involve an hydrolysis temperature of 50°C, a material ratio of 5.2%, and a protease dosage of 223 kU/100 g. Six replicate validation experiments were conducted according to the revised optimal process conditions, yielding an average hydrolysis degree of 267.6 ± 0.7%. The absolute deviation between this value and the theoretical prediction was less than 5%, and the results of a t-test indicated no significant difference, thereby further validating the reliability of the model.
2.3 Results of free amino acid compositions
The Taste Activity Value (TAV) theory is used to quantify the contribution of individual compounds, such as amino acids, to the overall taste profile of a product. This theoretical framework is particularly useful for assessing the flavor characteristics of foods before and after processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis (Gao H. et al., 2021; Yang et al., 2024). TAV is calculated using the following formula:
When the TAV of a compound is greater than 1 (TAV > 1), it indicates that the compound is present at a concentration exceeding its sensory threshold, meaning its taste is perceptible and contributes to the overall flavor. Conversely, if the TAV is less than 1 (TAV < 1), the compound’s concentration is below its sensory threshold, making it unlikely to influence the flavor profile.
In the analysis of free amino acids, various taste phenotypes are commonly used to classify them. Based on the classification methods of Cai et al. (2024), Bachmanov et al. (2016), and Chen et al. (2022), this study adopts the approach outlined in Table 3 to categorize the taste phenotypes of free amino acids. The threshold values for TAV calculations were derived from the research conducted by Liu et al. (2019).
Post-hydrolysis, the flavor profile of the product becomes markedly more prominent in umami and sweetness, while bitterness remains subdued. Glutamic acid (Glu) and aspartic acid (Asp), key contributors to umami flavor, show substantial increases in FAA content from 140.00 mg·100 mL−1 to 241.42 mg·100 mL−1 and from 40.00 mg·100 mL−1 to 118.03 mg·100 mL−1, respectively, elevating their TAVs to 8.05 and 1.18. This rise underscores a more pronounced umami taste post-hydrolysis. Similarly, alanine (Ala) exhibits a TAV exceeding 1, signaling a perceptible sweetness, with FAA content rising from 20.00 mg·100 mL−1 to 69.74 mg·100 mL−1. Bitter-tasting amino acids, such as leucine (Leu), phenylalanine (Phe), and tyrosine (Tyr), though increased in FAA content, do not reach TAV thresholds that impart a strong bitterness. This aligns with the findings of Poojary et al. (2017), who demonstrated that enzyme-assisted extraction is a promising method for enhancing the recovery rate of umami-related amino acids from mushrooms.
Additionally, the nutritional quality is enhanced, evidenced by the significant elevation in essential amino acids (EAAs) such as Lysine (Lys), Valine (Val), and Isoleucine (Ile). Lysine, which is crucial for protein synthesis and collagen formation (Matthews, 2020), rises from 26.00 mg·100 mL−1 to 69.74 mg·100 mL−1. Valine and Isoleucine, both vital for muscle recovery and metabolism (Mann et al., 2021), also increase markedly to 64.38 mg·100 mL−1 and 47.75 mg·100 mL−1, respectively. The overall FAA content indicates an enhanced nutritional profile post-hydrolysis, contributing both to the flavor intensity and the health benefits of the product.
2.4 Results of in vitro antioxidant test
2.4.1 Determination of ·O₂− scavenging ability
The ·O₂− scavenging ability of L. edodes hydrolysates solutions at different concentrations exhibited a clear dose–response relationship, with higher hydrolysate content corresponding to increased ·O₂− scavenging rates (Figure 4A). These results indicate that the concentration of L. edodes hydrolysates solutions significantly affects their ·O₂− scavenging ability. Using the same analytical method as described above, the IC50 for ·O₂− was determined to be 2.013.
2.4.2 Determination of DPPH scavenging ability
As shown in Figure 4B, the DPPH radical scavenging ability of with different hydrolysate content increased with concentration. L. edodes hydrolysate solutions with high concentration had high free radical scavenging rates. This indicated that the concentration of L. edodes hydrolysates had a high impact on DPPH scavenging ability. By using GraphPad Prism IC50 was calculated as 2.536. This indicates that L. edodes hydrolysates has strong antioxidant properties. The results are significantly superior to those of extracts from various wild mushrooms (Bolesławska et al., 2024).
3 Materials and methods
3.1 Materials
The fresh L. edodes was obtained from e-commerce platforms.
Acid protease (49,049 U/g) was obtained from Novozymes Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Nan’jing, China). Alkaline protease (577,179 U/g) and flavor protease (336,859 U/g) were obtained from Wanbo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Zheng’zhou, China).
3.2 Preparation of Lentinus edodes powder
Place the fresh L. edodes into a 60°C dryer and dry in hot air until constant weight. Using a grinder, the dried mushroom roe was ground into powder and passed through a standard sieve with a pore size of 0.2 mm. The sieved fines are selected and stored in a sealable bag in a cool and dry place.
3.3 Preparation of Lentinus edodes hydrolysate
3.3.1 Hydrolysis process
Add buffer solution to the mixture of powder and water with a total mass of 16 g to adjust to the optimum pH range of the corresponding protease. Then the protease was added, mixed thoroughly and hydrolyzed by heating in a shocked water bath. Finally, the mixture was placed in a water bath at 95°C and kept for 15 min to kill the protease activity. At the end, Cooling to room temperature and centrifugation at 8000 rpm for 10 min was performed to obtain the supernatant. The obtained supernatant is the hydrolysate.
3.3.2 Screening of proteases
Three kinds of proteases, acidic protease, flavored protease and alkaline protease, were analyzed to hydrolyze L. edodes proteins. The experimental steps were as follows: 1 g of L. edodes powder was added into 15 mL of distilled water, mixed thoroughly, and then adjusted to the optimal pH range of the corresponding proteases, and then 1% of alkaline protease, flavor protease and acid protease with equal enzyme activity units, were added, mixed thoroughly, and then adjusted the mass to 20 g. L. edodes were hydrolyzed at the optimal temperature for 2 h. The optimal proteases for hydrolysis of L. edodes proteins were selected according to the increase of amino acid nitrogen content.
3.3.3 Single-factor experiment
Based on the study conducted by Zhou et al. (2024) and Bing et al. (2024), the range of individual hydrolysis parameters was determined with subsequent modifications and improvements. The hydrolysis process of Lentinula edodes was studied using flavor protease, and the effects of material ratio, enzyme dosage, hydrolysis temperature and hydrolysis time on the hydrolysis effect were investigated.
3.3.3.1 The effect of protease dosage
Under the conditions of material ratio of 1:15, hydrolysis temperature of 45°C and enzymatic hydrolysis time of 2 h, the protease dosage were 120 kU/100 g, 240 kU/100 g and 360 kU/100 g, respectively, to investigate the effect of protease dosage on the AAN raise ratio.
3.3.3.2 The effect of hydrolysis temperature
Under the conditions of solid–liquid ratio of 1:15, protease dosage of 120 kU/100 g, and hydrolysis time of 2 h, the enzymatic hydrolysis temperatures were, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C and 60°C, respectively, and the effect of hydrolysis temperature on the AAN raise ratio was investigated.
3.3.3.3 The effect of hydrolysis time
Under the conditions of solid–liquid ratio of 1:15, the protease dosage were 120 kU/100 g, and hydrolysis temperature of 35°C, the hydrolysis times were 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 2.5 h and 3 h respectively, and the effect of hydrolysis temperature on the AAN raise ratio was investigated.
3.3.3.4 The effect of material ratio
Under the conditions of protease dosage of 120 kU/100 g, hydrolysis temperature of 35°C and hydrolysis time of 2 h, the material liquid ratio was set to 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, 1:25 and 1:30 respectively, and the effect of the material ratio on the AAN raise ratio was investigated.
3.3.4 Response surface experimental design
Based on the outcomes of the single-factor experiments, enzyme hydrolysis temperature (A), material-to-liquid ratio (B), and enzyme dosage (C), which significantly influenced the degree of hydrolysis, were selected as independent variables. The AAN increase ratio was chosen as the response variable for the Box–Behnken experiment. A three-factor, three-level experimental design was formulated and analyzed using Design Expert 8.0.6 software. The coded factor levels are presented in the Table 4.
3.4 Determination of amino acid nitrogen raise ratio
Amino acid nitrogen reflects the degree of hydrolysis of proteins (Luan et al., 2021; Xie et al., 2024). The content of amino acid nitrogen in the hydrolysates was determined following the procedure outlined in Section 11.3 of the GB 5009.235–2016 standard, titled “National Food Safety Standard: Determination of Amino Acid Nitrogen in Food”. The amino acid nitrogen raise ratio (AANrR) was calculated using the following formula, (Equation 1), based on the principles provided in the aforementioned national standard:
3.5 Determination of free amino acids compositions
A 4 mL sample was mixed with 1 mL of 5-sulfosalicylic acid and incubated at 4°C for 1 h. The mixture was then centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 min and filtered through a 0.22 μm filter. The contents of free amino acids in the supernatant were determined using an automatic amino acid analyzer (L-8900; Hitachi Co., Tokyo, Japan) (Kowalska et al., 2022).
3.6 In vitro antioxidant test
3.6.1 Determination of ·O2− scavenging ability
The superoxide anion (·O₂−) scavenging ability of L. edodes hydrolysates was assessed using the method described by Esfandi et al. (2024). The O₂− scavenging rate was calculated according to the following formula (Equation 2):
3.6.2 Determination of DPPH scavenging ability
The DPPH scavenging ability of L. edodes hydrolysates was determined using Karami’s method (Karami et al., 2019). The DPPH scavenging rate was calculated according to the following formula (Equation 3):
3.7 Statistical analysis
The test data were analyzed for variance using SPSS 22 statistical software. Multiple comparisons were conducted employing Duncan’s method, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Response surface analysis was performed using Design-Expert 8 software, and all graphs were generated with Origin 2024b software. Data were averaged from the results of three repeated experiments.
4 Conclusion
In this study, enzymatic hydrolysis was applied to convert macromolecular proteins in L. edodes into free amino acids and peptides, thereby improving its flavor and nutritional profile. Flavor protease exhibited the best hydrolysis performance. The process increased umami and sweet amino acids while keeping bitter and tasteless amino acids below their sensory thresholds, enhancing overall taste. The resulting amino acid profile closely resembled the FAO/WHO model, satisfying essential amino acid requirements and demonstrating notable antioxidant (Song et al., 2024). Given the rising demand for natural food seasonings, hydrolyzed L. edodes has strong market potential, especially as a base for compound seasonings (Ismail-Fitry and Ang, 2019; Xu et al., 2022). Moreover, antioxidant peptides derived from plant proteins offer advantages over synthetic additives, including cost-effectiveness, safety, and sustainability (Wen et al., 2020). Hence, L. edodes-based seasonings can also serve to reduce the need for additional preservatives due to their inherent preservative properties.
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s.
Author contributions
BZ: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization. XW: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization. TQ: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization. QD: Funding acquisition, Project administration, Writing – review & editing. HW: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by Shandong Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Edible Fungi Innovation Team, grant number SDAIT-07-14.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Gen AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Publisher’s note
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Keywords: mushroom protein, amino acid evaluation, response surface, protease hydrolysis, flavor, TAV value
Citation: Zheng B, Wu X, Qiao T, Ding Q and Wang H (2025) Response surface methodology optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis of Lentinus edodes and analysis of product ingredients functions. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 9:1617816. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1617816
Edited by:
Reza Rastmanesh, American Physical Society, United StatesReviewed by:
Seydi Yıkmış, Namik Kemal University, TürkiyeAndrew Setiawan Rusdianto, University of Jember, Indonesia
Copyright © 2025 Zheng, Wu, Qiao, Ding and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Honglei Wang, d2FuZ2hvbmdsZWlAY2F1LmVkdS5jbg==
†These authors have contributed equally to this work