Juan You

Biochemical, sensory and microbiological attributes of bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) during partial freezing and chilled storage

BACKGROUND Bream is one of the main farmed freshwater fish species in China. This study aimed to examine the nucleotide degradation of bream during partial freezing and chilled storage and to assess the possible usefulness of nucleotide ratios (K, Ki, H, P, Fr and G values) as freshness indices in comparison with sensory assessment and total viable counts. RESULTS Total viable counts were 5.74 and 4.66 log(colony-forming units g(-1)) on the day of sensory rejection under chilled storage and partial freezing storage respectively. The inosine 5-monophosphate decrease and inosine increase were faster in chilled storage than in partial freezing storage. Hypoxanthine levels increased continuously with time under both storage regimes. Among the nucleotide ratios, the K, Ki, P, G and Fr values were superior to the H value and provided useful freshness indicators for both storage conditions. CONCLUSION Bream in chilled storage were sensorially acceptable only up to 10 days, compared with 33 days for bream in partial freezing storage. Partial freezing delayed the nucleotide degradation of bream.

Antioxidant activities and functional properties of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) protein hydrolysates

BACKGROUND Grass carp, with an annual production exceeding 4 × 10(6) t in China in 2009, has not been developed into a high-value product. In this study the antioxidant activities and functional properties of grass carp protein hydrolysates prepared with Alcalase 2.4L (HA) and papain (HP) were investigated. The hydrolysate with strongest radical-scavenging activity and reducing power was assessed further for changes in its antioxidant activity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. RESULTS As the degree of hydrolysis (DH) increased, the metal-chelating activity of both HA and HP increased while their reducing power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(•) )-scavenging activity decreased (P < 0.05). At the same DH, HP possessed higher DPPH(•) -scavenging activity and reducing power than HA (P < 0.05). The metal-chelating activity of HP with 10% DH was significantly increased after in vitro gastrointestinal metabolism (P < 0.05). Regarding their functional properties, all hydrolysates were more than 81% soluble over a wide range of pH (3-8). At the same DH, HP showed higher emulsion activity index but lower solubility and foaming capacity than HA. CONCLUSION Grass carp protein hydrolysates showed high solubility over a wide pH range and could be used as natural antioxidants in food systems.

Changes in Physicochemical Properties of Bighead Carp (Aristichthys mobilis) Actomyosin by Thermal Treatment

Physicochemical properties of actomyosin from bighead carp during heat-treatment were investigated. Turbidity, solubility, and surface hydrophobicity showed significant changes from 40–55°C (P < 0.05). Heat-treatment before 45°C could make actomyosin unfold, and the disulfide bonds were formed at temperatures above 45°C. Three enthalpy transitions at 41.2, 61.7, and 63.4°C were found in differential scanning calorimetry thermogram of bighead carp actomyosin. Storage modulus (G′) increased gradually and reached the first peak at 36.5°C and the second peak at 50°C. Myosin suffered conformation changes and lead to aggregation during the heating period.

Functional Properties of Water-soluble Proteins from Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Conjugated with Five Different Kinds of Sugar

Water-soluble proteins (WSP) from silver carp denature easily during thermal processing, leading to the reduction of functional properties. In order to improve the functional properties of WSP and to utilize its resources efficiently, five different kinds of sugars (i.e., xylose, glucose, galactose, oligo-isomaltose, and dextran-10) were used to conjugate with WSP by Maillard reaction. Results suggested that the use of the Maillard reaction improved the solubility, heat stability, and emulsifying properties of WSP. With the increase of molecular weight (MW) of the sugars, the solubility, emulsifying properties, and total sulfhydryl (SH) groups of WSP increased, while the surface hydrophobicity decreased. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the five Maillard reaction products (MRPs) showed that xylose reacted easily with WSP than did the other four kinds of sugar. Dextran-10 conjugated to WSP could efficiently improve the functional properties of WSP during heat processing.

Functional Properties of Water-Soluble Proteins from Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) at Different pHs

Water-soluble proteins (WSP) from silver carp muscle are currently underutilized in China and are discarded into waste streams in surimi processing. In order to utilize WSP resources efficiently, this work investigated the effect of pH on the functional properties of WSP. With an increase in pH, the solubility decreased and then increased; the lowest solubility was observed at pH 4.0. Also, heat-stability, emulsifying activity index (EAI), and foamability decreased and then increased with increasing pH; the lowest values were shown at pH 5.0. The better heat-stability, EAI, and foamability were obtained at pH 3.0. An increase in total sulfhydryl content was observed when the pH was 3.0–5.0, and a decrease was obtained at pH 5.0–9.0. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of WSP treated at various pHs showed that molecular weights of the main WSP ranged from 30 to 97 kDa. The WSP was recovered by adjusting the pH to 4.0–5.0, and the functional properties of WSP were greatly affected by pH value.