enzymes
milk
alkaline phosphatase
N-acetylglucosaminidase
acid phosphatase
superoxide dismutase
sulphydryl oxidase
lysozyme
ribonuclease
glutathione peroxidase
GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSPEPTIDASE
ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY
BETA-D-GLUCOSAMINIDASE
BOVINE MAMMARY-GLAND
FAT-GLOBULE-MEMBRANE
SOMATIC-CELL COUNT
SHORT-TIME PASTEURIZER
SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE
ACID-PHOSPHATASE
HEAT-TREATMENT
Between 1924 and about 1970, many indigenous enzymes were identified in milk. These were important as indicators of the adequate pasteurisation of milk (alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase) or of mastitis (N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase) and some were considered to be important for the stability of milk (superoxidase dismutase, sulphydryl oxidase). Human and equine milk both contain a very high level of lysozyme, which is considered to have a significant protective effect on the neonate. Progress on the isolation and characterisation of these seven enzymes first isolated in the period 1925-1970, as well as ribonuclease, aldolase and glutathione peroxidase, from the milk of the cow and other species and their significance in milk and dairy products is reviewed in this article. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.