Dual Role of Bifunctional α-L-Arabinofuranosidase/Xylanase in Fruit Juice Clarification and Sustainable Peel Biomass Utilization

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) and mosambi (Citrus limetta) are rich in antioxidant, and vitamin C content. However, juice extraction from these fruits generates agro-waste in the form of peels, which are often underutilized despite their high polysaccharide content. This study investigated the dual application of BoGH43_35, a bifunctional α-L-arabinofuranosidase/endo-β-1,4-xylanase from Bacteroides ovatus for juice clarification and peel biomass saccharification. BoGH43_35 at 0.05 mg/mL effectively clarified the freshly extracted pomegranate and mosambi juices in 4 h, as evidenced by reduced turbidity, increased transmittance and lower viscosity. The increase in total reducing sugars in BoGH43_35 treated fruit-juices confirmed the hemicellulose degradation as the primary mechanism behind the clarification process. The study also explored the valorization of pomegranate and mosambi peels through enzymatic hydrolysis using BoGH43_35, alone and in combination with BoExXyl43A, an exo-β-1,4-xylosidase. The combination of the two enzymes yielded the highest total reducing sugar of 623.8 mg/g for pomegranate and 505.4 mg/g for mosambi, demonstrating effective conversion of hemicellulose into fermentable sugars. These results established BoGH43_35 as a multifunctional biocatalyst suitable for both, improving commercial juice quality and converting fruit peel waste into useful bioproducts. The enzymatic approach not only enhances product quality in the food industry but also supports circular bioeconomy principles by transforming agro-waste into useful bioproducts. This study underscores the industrial promise of BoGH43_35 in integrated fruit processing and biomass valorization pipelines.