Baohua Kong

Physicochemical change and protein oxidation in porcine longissimus dorsi as influenced by different freeze-thaw cycles.

Effects of different freeze-thaw cycles (0, 1, 3 and 5) on physicochemical change and protein oxidation in porcine longissimus dorsi were investigated. When the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased, the thawing losses, cooking loss and b*-value increased (P<0.05), a*-value decreased (P<0.05). The cutting forces of pork increased after one cycle of freeze-thaw (from 28.3N to 40.4N) (P<0.05), but the further increase of freeze-thaw cycles would lead to decrease of cutting force. The decreases in Ca(2+)- and K(+)-ATPase activity and sulfhydryl group (P<0.05) content with concomitant increases in carbonyl content and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) value (P<0.05) showed that multiple freeze-thaw could cause the porcine protein and fat oxidation, especially for the pork subjected to five freeze-thaw cycles. Gel electrophoresis patterns of porcine muscle showed that multiple freeze-thaw cycles could cause cross-linking of protein in myofibril. Overall, the freeze-thaw process has a detrimental effect on the quality of pork.

Antimicrobial activities of spice extracts against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in modified atmosphere packaged fresh pork and vacuum packaged ham slices stored at 4 °C

The antimicrobial activity of 14 spice extracts against four common meat spoilage and pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Lactobacillus sake) was screened in cultured media (experiment 1). The results showed that individual extracts of clove, rosemary, cassia bark and liquorice contained strong antimicrobial activity, but the mixture of rosemary and liquorice extracts was the best inhibitor against all four types of microbes. Subsequently, mixed rosemary/liquorice extracts were spray-applied to inoculated fresh pork in modified atmosphere packaging (experiment 2) and to inoculated ham slices in vacuum packaging (experiment 3). The meat samples were stored at 4°C over a 28-day period and microbial growth was monitored regularly. The L. monocytogenes population on fresh pork by day 28 decreased 2.9, 3.1 and 3.6 logs, the MAB decreased 2.7, 2.9 and 3.1 logs, the Pseudomonas spp. count decreased 1.6, 2.1 and 2.6 logs and the total coliform count decreased 0.6, 0.8 and 1.2 logs, corresponding to 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0mg/ml of spray, respectively, when compared to control (P<0.05). The number of L. monocytogenes on ham slices decreased 2.5, 2.6 and 3.0 logs, the MAB plate counts decreased 2.9, 3.0 and 3.2 logs and the LAB counts decreased 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8 logs (P<0.05), respectively, after 28-days, by the same levels of mixed rosemary/liquorice extract treatments. The results demonstrated strong potential of mixed rosemary and liquorice as a natural preservative in fresh pork and ham products.

Antioxidant activity of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) extract and its inhibitory effect on lipid and protein oxidation of pork patties during chilled storage

This experiment was conducted to assess the antioxidant efficacy of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) extract (BCE) in raw pork patties during chilled storage. The extracting conditions of frozen BCE including ethanol concentrations (0-100%) and extracting times (0.25-12h) were studied. BCE extracted with 40% ethanol for 2h had the highest anthocyanin content, the strongest radical scavenging activities as well as the second strongest reducing power. BCE was condensed and added to pork patties at 5, 10 or 20 g/kg. Compared with the control, BCE treatments significantly decreased the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values and carbonyls formation and reduced the sulfhydryl loss of pork patties in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05), which showed that the BCE significantly inhibited lipid and protein oxidation. The BCE-treated patties showed significantly higher redness (P<0.05) than the control. The findings demonstrated strong potential for BCE as a natural antioxidant in meat and meat products.

Antioxidant activity of spice extracts in a liposome system and in cooked pork patties and the possible mode of action

Three experiments were conducted to assess the antioxidant efficacy of spice extracts in cooked meat. In experiment 1, antioxidant activity of 13 common spice extracts was screened in a liposome system. Six of the extracts (clove, rosemary, cassia bark, liquorice, nutmeg, and round cardamom), identified to have the greatest total phenolic contents, were strongly inhibitory of TBARS formation. In experiment 2, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing power, and metal chelation of these six spice extracts were evaluated. Clove exhibited the greatest reducing power, and all had strong DPPH scavenging activity. In experiment 3, clove, rosemary, and cassia bark extracts were further tested for in situ antioxidant efficacy. Cooked pork patties containing these spice extracts had markedly reduced TBARS formation and off-flavour scores but a more stable red colour, during storage. The results demonstrated strong potential of spice extracts as natural antioxidants in cooked pork products.

Production of cured meat color in nitrite-free Harbin red sausage by Lactobacillus fermentum fermentation

Lactobacillus fermentum was substituted for nitrite to produce cured pink color in a Chinese-style sausage. Treatments included inoculations (10(4), 10(6), and 10(8)CFU/g meat) followed by fermentation at 30°C for 8h and then at 4°C for 16h. Control sausage (with sodium nitrite, 60mg/kg meat) was cured at 4°C for 24h without L. fermentum. The UV-Vis spectra of pigment extract from L. fermentum-treated sausage were identical to that of nitrosylmyoglobin (NO-Mb) formed in nitrite-treated control. The NO-Mb concentration and the colorimetric a(∗) value of sausage treated with 10(8)CFU/g meat of L. fermentum essentially replicated those in nitrite-cured meat. Free amino acid content in sausage treated with L. fermentum was greater and the pH slightly lower compared with the nitrite-cured control sample. This study showed that L. fermentum has the potential to substitute for nitrite in the sausage production.

Decreased gelling and emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein from repeatedly frozen-thawed porcine longissimus muscle are due to protein denaturation and susceptibility to aggregation

The effects of freeze-thaw cycles (FT, 0, 1, 3 and 5 times) on protein functional properties of porcine longissimus muscle were investigated. FT increased gapping between muscle fibres and tore muscle fiber bundles. Myofibrillar protein (MP) isolated from FT muscle showed an increased hydrophobicity (P<0.05), reduced thermal transition temperatures (T(max)) and enthalpy of denaturation (DeltaH) (P<0.05), and enhanced susceptibility to thermal aggregation. These structural changes resulted in major losses in protein functionalities, e.g., 41-43% reductions (P<0.05) in MP emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability after five FT cycles. The ability of MP to form a viscoelastic gel network, as analyzed by small-strain oscillatory rheological testing, also attenuated with FT cycles. The FT process lowered (P<0.05) water-holding capacity (WHC), whiteness, and texture (hardness, springiness, chewiness and cohesiveness) of MP gels. Overall, repeated FT had a detrimental effect on the general functionality of porcine MP, and protein denaturation and aggregation were implicated in the functionality losses.

Protection of lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage by 0.1–2.8 kDa antioxidative peptides isolated from whey protein hydrolysate

Antioxidative peptides (0.1-2.8 kDa) obtained from gel filtration of Alcalase-hydrolysed whey protein were subjected to individual peptide isolation by RP-HPLC. The sub-fraction P4 and a prominent pentapeptide identified by mass spectrometry (Val-His-Leu-Lys-Pro) (P4c) were found to be highly antioxidative, therefore, used to assess the efficacy against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell oxidative injury. MRC-5 cells were damaged by incubation with H(2)O(2), but cell death was significantly reduced when exposed to P4 and P4c (P<0.05). Compared to the H(2)O(2)-damaged model control, P4 and P4c enhanced the activity of cell superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase, and decreased the levels of malonaldehyde (P<0.05). These results, with a more pronounced action of P4c than P4, demonstrated that antioxidative peptides had a significant protection of MRC-5 cells against the toxicity caused by H(2)O(2).

Formation and identification of nitrosylmyoglobin by Staphylococcus xylosus in raw meat batters: a potential solution for nitrite substitution in meat products.

Staphylococcus xylosus and Pediococcus pentosaceus isolated from Chinese dried sausage were assessed for their ability to convert metmyoglobin into nitrosylmyoglobin in Mann-Rogosa-Sharp broth model systems and raw pork meat batters without the addition of nitrite. The results showed that samples in model systems with S. xylosus cultures had an absorption spectra that is typical of nitrosylmyoglobin, an obvious pink colour (judged by visual inspection) and a significantly higher a-value than the control samples or samples inoculated with P. pentosaceus. In raw meat batters, the a-values of the S. xylosus samples were almost the same as those for the meat with nitrite added. The complementary analysis of meat batter samples by photochemical information from UV-vis, electron spin resonance and resonance Raman spectroscopy revealed that the existing status of the myoglobin in meat batters inoculated with S. xylosus was mainly pentacoordinate nitrosylmyoglobin. This study provides a potential solution for nitrite substitute in meat products.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of porcine plasma protein hydrolysates on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Porcine plasma protein hydrolysate (PPH) prepared by alcalase for 5 h was fractioned by ultrafiltration. Four fractions, H(1) (MW>10k), H(2) (MW 6-10k), H(3) (MW 3-6k) and H(4) (MW<3k), were obtained. H(4) possessed the highest antioxidant activity as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (P<0.01). Male rats were pretreated with H(4) at dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of body weight orally once daily for 12 days, then they were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of CCl(4) (2 mL/kg of body weight). The results showed that oral feeding of H(4) could significantly lower (P<0.01) the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase). Compared with the CCl(4)-only treatment group, levels of hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased, and the malondialdehyde levels were sharply decreased (P<0.01) in rats treated by all doses of PPH fraction H(4). A histological examination of the liver showed that lesions, including necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration and fatty degeneration, were partially healed by treatment with H(4) fractions. These data suggest that in rats, PPH can protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage.

Influence of storage temperature and duration on lipid and protein oxidation and flavour changes in frozen pork dumpling filler.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of storage temperature and duration on oxidation and flavour changes in frozen pork dumpling filler. Freshly prepared dumplings were stored for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 180 d at -7°C, -18°C, and an oscillation between -7°C and -18°C. The samples stored at -7°C for 180 d had significantly higher levels of TBARS and protein carbonyls than those stored at -18°C and the fluctuating -7°C/-18°C (P<0.05). The percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in total lipids decreased with extended storage times. The volatile compounds with pleasant odours decreased with time, while the compounds with pungent tastes and smells increased (P<0.05). The sensory results showed that the dumplings stored at higher frozen temperatures for long periods of time had significantly lower acceptability scores (P<0.05). The results suggest that oxidation is a primary cause of quality deterioration in pork dumpling filler during frozen storage.