Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)最新文献

This study investigated the impact of blueberry anthocyanin (BA) on the interaction between tilapia myofibrillar protein (MP) and fishy compounds (hexanal, octanal, nonanal, trans-2-nonenal, and 1-octen-3-ol). Results indicated that at a protein concentration of 5 mg/mL and fishy compounds at 5 μg/mL, MP effectively adsorbed these compounds at 4 °C, pH 7.0, and 0.6 mol/L Na⁺. Increasing BA concentration (0.03-0.24 mg/mL) enhanced the α-helix content of MP from 30 % to 60 %, with a blue shift in the maximum fluorescence emission peak (333-337 nm), suggesting that BA promotes protein structural folding and stability. In MP and fresh fish models, BA addition significantly decreased hexanal (from 50.2 % ± 1.6 % to 29.0 % ± 9.5 %), octanal (from 97.8 % ± 1.6 % to 38.7 % ± 1.8 %), and nonanal (from 69.4 % ± 7.7 % to 39.0 %). Conversely, higher BA concentrations led to increased release of 1-octene-3-ol (from 104.1 % ± 4.4 % to 120.4 % ± 1.1 %). Overall, the findings highlight the correlation between BA's effects on protein folding and stabilization and its influence on the controlled release of fishy compounds, underscoring the significance of polyphenols in protein-flavor interactions. This research offers valuable insights into flavor management and establishes a theoretical basis for flavor regulation in tilapia meat products, contributing to the broader study of quality control and flavor enhancement in meat products through natural pigment active ingredients.

To develop a safe, stable and easily absorbed new antioxidant peptide. The myofibrillar protein hydrolysates of Siamese crocodile meat were prepared and purified, their free radical scavenging and Fe²⁺ chelating ability were determined. The results showed that isolated component 3 of neutral protease hydrolysate (N₃) had the highest antioxidant activity. Subsequently, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied to appraise the amino acid sequences within the N₃ component, and 8 novel antioxidant peptides were screened by bioinformatics analysis, the antioxidant test proved that all 8 synthetic peptides had certain antioxidant activity. Among them, there was no significant difference in the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of GWDK, LWDK, ERWP, LGWK and LWAK (P > 0.05), which were higher than that of DFRDY and WYRDD (P < 0.05), the ABTS radical scavenging ability of DFRDY was similar to WYRDD (P > 0.05), but remarkably stronger than that of the other 6 peptides (P < 0.05). Finally, the binding mechanism of 8 novel peptides to Keap1 protein was explored through molecular docking, and it was found that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction were the primary forces that bind antioxidant peptides to Keap1 protein.

Fish maw, a traditional nutritious food, has significant development potential. However, the limited species sources and scarce research on processing characteristics present challenges. This study selected nine species of fish maws to determine their morphology and yield during hydrothermal treatment. Changes in nutritional composition, water migration, and structural characteristics between fresh and water-soaked fish maws were compared. All fresh fish maws had a dry basis protein content of more than 80 %, with no heavy metals, rich in functional and hydrophobic amino acids. After processing fresh fish maw into water-soaked fish maw, the fat and ash content decreased, while the relative protein content increased, and there was little change in the amino acid composition. Water distribution and texture properties indicated an initial rapid then slow water absorption rate for fish maw. After soaking, most bound and immobilized water transformed into free water, significantly enhancing cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness. Hardness change varied among different species of fish maws due to inherent differences. Microstructural analysis revealed that the fiber bundle transitioned from an interlaced, tight structure to a porous network structure, with pore size and network distribution related to water migration and the texture characteristics of the fish maw. Among all species studied, freshwater silver carp and redfin culter fish maws demonstrated potential for further development.

Food safety caused by microbial contamination is an important problem that is difficult to solve for the food industry. In this study, a photocurable CFT hydrogel material is prepared by photocrossing casein with the flavin mononucleotide/sodium persulfate system, while flavin mononucleotide and tryptophan are used as photocatalysts to generate hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for the inactivation of food pathogenic microorganisms. The CFT hydrogel demonstrated rapid gelation (<3 min), robust mechanical properties (1775 Pa), efficient H₂O₂ production (75 µM), and favorable biocompatibility. The CFT hydrogel could sterilize Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria after light irradiation, with sterilization rates exceeding 98 %. In addition, the CFT hydrogel showed great antibacterial activity to reduce E. coli on the surface of cherry tomatoes by 1.2 log. These unique properties make the CFT hydrogel a promising material for food preservation.

Based on the huge blank of thickened fluid staple food for people with dysphagia, multiple in vitro simulations were utilized to develop the thickened fermented rice milk. Here, the effect of amylase content, hydrolysis time and thickener content were considered. The rheological study and Cambridge throat evaluation revealed that hydrolysis could significantly reduce the viscosity and yield stress of fermented rice milk, accompanied by the decreased swallowing residue. The addition of thickeners increased the viscosity and cohesion of the fermented rice milk due to the entanglement network formation, which facilitated the formation of lubricating film, decreased the coefficient of friction, and improved the sensory score. Increasing thickener content from 0 % to 0.5 % induced the longer oral transition time (0.26 s to 0.45 s), more residue (0.85 g to 2.07 g) and shorter stretching length (850.42 mm to 313.62 mm) shown in the Cambridge throat simulation. Among them, the fermented rice milk with 0.40 % thickener showed the best sensory properties, and its swallowing properties evaluated by computer simulation also suggested concentrated frequency distribution of velocity, shear rate and viscosity without splashing or choking compared with the normal fermented rice milk, showing excellent swallowing safety.

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, the search for natural compounds with potential anti-hyperglycemic effects has become a key focus in food and nutrition research. L-theanine (THE) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from tea are gaining attention due to their antioxidant and metabolic regulation properties. Although they have been shown to have an effect on glucose metabolism, their synergistic effect on starch digestive properties and the mechanism remain unclear. Here, we explored that THE and EGCG synergistically regulated starch digestive properties in ultrasound treatment through two different perspectives. At specific THE/EGCG ratios (THE/EGCG_1:1), maize starch granules exhibited significant aggregation and densification. THE promoted the ordered arrangement of starch molecular chains through hydrogen bonding, and the polyphenolic structure of EGCG further stabilised this ordered structure, thus enhancing the crystallinity and short-range ordering of starch. It meant that THE and EGCG further reduced starch digestibility by synergistically modulating the multi-scale structure of starch. In addition, THE and EGCG exhibited significant synergistic inhibition of α-amylase activity (1.6 mM THE and 0.05 mg/mL EGCG). The multi-spectral results showed that the addition of THE and EGCG enhanced the conformational change of the enzyme, leading to the change of the secondary structure, and the synergistic effect might originate from the multiple interactions of THE and EGCG with different amino acid residues in the digestive enzyme (e.g., THR-163, GLN-63, ASP-197, etc), which strengthened the inhibition, and the molecular dynamics simulations further supported the findings. This work promotes the further development and utilisation of endogenous substances in tea and provides some references for the development of food ingredients with potential hypoglycaemic functions.

The effect of an in vitro gastrointestinal assay on the characteristics of nanoparticles from food additives TiO₂ (E171) and SiO₂ (E551) present in confectionaries was determined by spICP-MS. No significant differences were detected in particle size distribution regardless of the phase of the in vitro stage and the confectionary products, with particles present as aggregates/ agglomerates. The percentage of TiO₂ as nanoparticle form was found to be less than 50 % during the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process, whereas SiO₂ nanoparticles could not be detected due to the high LOD in size obtained (142 nm). The bioaccessible fractions of intestinal extracts showed a 5 % content for both particle types, suggesting their limited absorption in the body. MTT cytotoxicity assay with Caco-2 cells exposed to gastrointestinal extracts from confectionery products revealed an average cytotoxic effect of 40 % for all products tested which was attributed to the food matrix components rather than (nano)particles.

The lack of sufficient flavour in perry represents a barrier to its further industrialization. This study aimed to investigate the effects of glutathione (GSH), β-glucosidase (Glu), and α-L-rhamnosidase (Rha) pretreatments, the fermentation temperature from 16 °C to 28 °C, and the aging time of 1, 2, and 3 years (PA1, PA2, and PA3) on the physicochemical properties, organic acids, and aroma profiles were investigated. The results demonstrated that the synergistic effect of Glu, Rha, and GSH was more effective than their individual or paired applications in enhancing the varietal aromas. The contents of terpenes, phenols, acetate and ethyl esters in the Glu + Rha + GSH treatment were significantly increased in comparison to the control, with improvements of 60.77 %, 118.64 %, 77.02 %, and 32.82 %, respectively. The OAV flavor profile showed rich floral, fruity, and citrus aromas. The contents of tartaric acid and quinic acid decreased from 16 °C to 28 °C, whereas lactic acid was the opposite. Except for phenethyl acetate and ethyl decanoate, the contents of acetate and ethyl esters exhibited a decline at elevated temperatures, whereas isopentanol and phenylethyl alcohol increased. The contents of esters and phenols at 16 °C increased significantly, whereas those of alcohols decreased. This contributed to banana, floral, fruity, orange peel, and spices aromas to the fermentation aromas. The difference in organic acid profiles between PA3 and PA1, PA2 were obvious, the contents of acetic acid and citric acid in PA3 decreased significantly, whereas those of tartaric acid, L-malic acid, and lactic acid increased. The contents and proportions of acetate and medium-chain fatty acid ethyl esters decreased from PA1 to PA3, while the ethyl esters resulted from esterification reactions increased, and the contents of alcohols and acids constituents were different between the three years. The contents of esters, phenols, and total volatiles increased significantly, while the aging aroma was markedly enhanced in PA3. It can be concluded that the Glu + Rha + GSH pretreatment, fermentation at 16 °C, and aging for three years exhibited the great aroma potential of perry, which enhanced the flavor intensity through the regulation of varietal, fermentation, and aging aromas.

Consumption of healthy diets with low environmental impact is crucial for improving global health. Legumes, like chickpeas, serve as valuable meat alternatives due to their nutritional profile, which may be improved through fermentation. This study aimed to develop innovative fermented chickpea flours using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from diverse ecosystems and evaluate their nutritional and functional properties in vitro. Fourteen batches of 20% chickpea-based puree were produced and fermented with 14 LAB isolated from different ecosystems. After fermentation, flours were obtained by freeze-drying. Most LAB grew well and reduced the pH of chickpea purees below 5 within 48 h. The flours were characterized for the content of polyphenols, bioactive peptides (BAPs), free amino groups (FAG), and phytic acid along with the total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Results showed that flours fermented by four LAB strains, including Enterococcus hirae and Enterococcus faecium had higher FAG and BAPs, including inhibitors of Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and Angiotensin-converting enzyme. Flours fermented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides OM94, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum E75, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPPB, and Lacticaseibacillus casei LBC491 contained higher amounts of polyphenols, had soluble TAC that was 10-fold and direct TAC 3-fold higher, and lower phytic acid content than the control flour. Pyrogallol was detected in fermented products for the first time, and protocatechuic 4-O-glucoside increased three times in chickpea flours fermented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides OM94 compared to the control. In conclusion, fermentation improved the nutritional and functional qualities of chickpea flour, identifying promising LAB strains to enhance antioxidant capacity and polyphenols availability.

This study explored how setting conditions affect the gel properties of shrimp surimi from Solenocera crassicornis using a two-step heating process with varying temperatures (30, 40, 50 °C) and durations (0-120 min). At 30 °C, increased hydrogen bonds and cross-linking promoted macromolecular polymer formation, with optimal elasticity achieved at 15-30 min, but longer times led to gel aggregation and uneven structure. At 40 °C, macromolecular polymer decreased, while sulfhydryl groups increased, leading to disulfide bond formation, which disrupted hydrogen bonds and increased hydrophobic groups. Gel strength decreased over setting time, with a soft and smooth texture observed after 15-30 min. Setting at 50 °C disrupted chemical bonds, exposed hydrophobic groups, and resulted in less significant changes in storage modulus and loss modulus. After high-temperature gelation at 90 °C, disulfide bonds were further disrupted, reducing the stability of gel properties. Moreover, an increase in the setting temperature affected the internal water distribution within the shrimp surimi gel. A shorter setting time promoted the absorption of water molecules by starch in the gel, thereby reducing the free water content. However, when the setting time exceeded 60 min, the proportions of bound water and immobile water decreased, gradually transforming into free water. This transformation increased the drip loss and softened the texture of gel. In summary, setting conditions significantly influenced moisture distribution, viscoelasticity, and chemical forces in shrimp surimi gels.