Changes in phospholipids of buffalo meat during processing and storage

Effect of broiling and pressure cooking as well as alterations during refrigerated (4°C) and frozen (-10°C) storage on the phospholipids of adult male buffalo muscles viz. Triceps brachii (TB), Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Biceps femoris (BF), i.e. from three different locations were studied. Muscles differed significatly in their total lipid and phospholipid content. Cooking methods significantly altered the total phospholipid content and its fractions. Storage period did not show any significant effect on total phospholipids during refrigerated and frozen storage, whereas certain phospholipid classes viz. lysophosphatidyl choline and lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine + sphingomyelin increased significantly and major phospholipid classes viz. phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine decreased significantly. The changes in phospholipid classes were similar both in refrigerated and frozen samples but relatively more pronounced in the former. Palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids were the four predominant fatty acids in the phospholipids of buffalo meat. The effects associated with the location of muscles were evident. Differences in fatty acid composition of individual muscles in response to heat processing were observed. Heat processing significantly increased the total saturates in TB and LD muscles while it decreased in BF. The total monounsaturated and total polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids decreased during refrigerated and frozen storage indicated by a significant decreass in oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids.