Studies on the antioxidative activity of red pigments in Italian-type dry-cured ham

Aqueous phosphate buffer extracts and acetone/water extracts of pigments from Parma ham were assessed as antioxidants by (1) electron spin resonance spectroscopy using a spin probing technique to evaluate their efficiencies as scavengers of free radicals, and (2) by electrochemical measurement of oxygen depletion rate in an aqueous methyl linoleate emulsion to evaluate their efficiencies as chain-breaking antioxidant, and using both methods, compared with the effect of apomyoglobin and nitrosylmyoglobin. Aqueous phosphate extracts and acetone/water extracts of Parma ham pigment both scavenged a semi-stable nitroxide radical (Fremy's salt), and both extracts reduced the rate of oxygen consumption for lipid peroxidation (initiated by metmyoglobin) very efficiently. For apomyoglobin no antioxidative capacity was observed, and the heme moiety of the pigment(s) of Parma ham were concluded to have antioxidative properties. The more lipophilic pigment, as extracted by acetone/water, had the most significant effect, and its ability to inhibit lipid oxidation was further tested in a model food system based on cooked pork. The lipid oxidation was increasingly inhibited by increasing additions from 0.12 ppm to 0.24 ppm Parma ham pigment, and the pigment protected -tocopherol against degradation in a concentration dependent manner.     

Changes in Zn-porphyrin and proteinous pigments in italian dry-cured ham during processing and maturation

Substitution of iron with zinc in myoglobin during maturation of Parma ham to yield zinc porphyrin extractable by 75% vol/vol acetone/water solution and detectable by fluorescence spectroscopy, was found to occur concomitant with protein modification in myoglobin. The content of zinc porphyrin increases throughout the whole processing and maturation of Parma ham, from I(fl) 0.1±0.06 for green ham to I(fl) 84.4±48.8 for fully matured Parma ham. In an aqueous extract of Parma ham with pH 6.0 protein alteration in myoglobin, as detected by size-exclusion chromatography, is initiated during the resting period following salting and seems to precede formation of zinc porphyrin. During maturation the results indicate that the modified myoglobin could undergo polymerization, and it is suggested that initial protein denaturation or degradation facilitates substitution of iron with zinc. The pigment polymerization may be a result of non-covalent protein association to zinc porphyrin in denatured or partly degraded myoglobin.     

Lipolysis in dry-cured ham maturation

Thirty light Parma hams were tested for muscle lipolytic activity (acid and neutral lipase activity) and free fatty acid (FFA) amounts in M. semimembranosus and biceps femoris, during progressive phases (0, 3, 6, 10 months) of dry-cured ham manufacturing. No correlation was found between the activities of acid and neutral lipases in fresh M. semimembranosus, while during processing the activities were positively related (p<0.1), probably due to effects of muscle composition changes on lipolytic activities. In each processing step tested, acid lipase activities were higher in the M. semimembranosus than in the M. biceps femoris, and FFA amounts varied accordingly, the only exception being for the very dehydrated 10-month old M. semimembranosus, which yielded lower FFA than in the corresponding M. biceps femoris. FFAs in the end product correlated positively with acid and neutral lipase activities of green ham, suggesting that FFA production could be influenced by both raw meat properties and muscle composition during processing.     

Microstructural changes in Teruel dry-cured ham during processing

Dry-cured ham, "Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)" Teruel, is a high quality meat product processed using a traditional dry-curing procedure. The objective of this paper was to study the microstructure of the Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus muscles during "PDO Teruel" dry-cured ham processing using electron microscopy techniques (Cryo-SEM, SEM and TEM). The Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris muscles from raw ham show the typical structure of muscle tissue in meat. The muscle fibres appear firmly attached to one another by the endomysial connective tissue; the myofibrils inside the cells are strongly attached to each other and to the sarcolemma. In raw ham, the typical structural elements that constitute the sarcomere can be observed by TEM. Important microstructural changes are observed following salting; reflected in the fact that the Z-disks inside the myofibrils are no longer in line and there is important degradation of the cell membranes in this stage. At the end of the process, an accumulation of solutes, which could be products from proteolysis occurring mainly in the last stage of ripening, could be observed in both muscles. Thus the proteolysis and dehydratation phenomena that take place during "PDO Teruel" dry-cured ham processing occur at an ultrastructural level, and this is the basis to produce a product with the sensory features appreciated by consumers.     

Changes in proteins during Teruel dry-cured ham processing

The aim of this work was to investigate the degradation of the water-soluble and myofibrillar proteins during the production of "PDO Teruel" cured ham using SDS-PAGE, and measurement of proteolytic activities (cathepsins B+L, cathepsin L, cathepsin D), as factors that influence the sensory characteristics of this product. This paper contributes to the specific characterisation of a product included in the European Union list of special quality products. The results showed that water-soluble proteins decrease considerably due to salting out and drainage after salting. The degradation of myofibrillar proteins is more pronounced during the ripening process, particularly in the last four months when the main proteins responsible for the structure of muscular tissue are affected. There is an important residual enzymatic activity for cathepsin B, L and D, which must be a decisive factor in the proteolysis observed during "PDO Teruel" ham processing.     

羊肉火腿加工过程中蛋白质的降解

对羊肉火腿加工过程中蛋白质的降解变化进行了研究。结果表明,总氮的含量在加工过程中先降低后升高,非蛋白氮含量和蛋白质水解指数在加工过程中持续增加;通过SDS-PAGE图谱分析,肌浆蛋白和肌原纤维蛋白均发生了降解,其中肌浆蛋白的降解主要发生在腌制期和发酵中期,肌原纤维蛋白则是在腌制期和发酵初期;各种游离氨基酸含量随着加工工艺的进行呈现不同程度增加,其中大部分游离氨基酸含量变化最显著的时期是在发酵初期和中期。     

Creatine and creatinine evolution during the processing of dry-cured ham

Dry-curing of ham involves many biochemical reactions that depend on the processing conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the dry-cured processing on the concentration of creatine, creatinine and the creatinine/creatine ratio. Dry-cured hams under study were salted using three different salt mixtures (100% NaCl; NaCl and KCl at 50% each; and 55% NaCl, 25% KCl, 15% CaCl₂ and 5% MgCl₂) in order to observe its influence on creatinine formation but no significant differences were found between them at any time of processing. However, significant differences between different post-salting times (20, 50 and 80 days) and the ripened hams (7, 9 and 11 months of ripening) were observed. Results showed that creatine and creatinine remain stable once the ripening period is reached. These results were confirmed when analysing dry-cured ham samples submitted to extreme conditions of temperature and time (20, 30, 40 and 70 °C during 0, 20, 40 and 60 min) as well as commercial dry-cured hams with more than 12 months of processing.     

Changes in flavor compounds of dry-cured Chinese Jinhua ham during processing

Sixty experimental Jinhua hams were processed by a traditional method using green hams from local Liangtouwu cross-bred pigs. Samples of Biceps femoris were taken from five hams randomly at each of the key stages of production, i.e., green ham, end of salting, end of sun-drying, middle of loft-aging, end of loft-aging, post-aging-1 and post-aging-2. Analysis of flavor compounds showed 89 compounds at the green ham stage and at the end of salting, 90 at the end of sun-drying, 91 at the middle of loft-aging, 96 at the end of loft-aging, 93 at the post-age-1 and 94 at the post-age-2. The flavor compounds could be clustered in the following chemical families: alkanes and alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, oxygenous heterocycle compounds, nitrogenous compounds, sulphur compounds, chloride compounds, amides, and terpenes. During processing, the concentrations of aldehydes and carboxylic acids increased; while the concentrations of alcohols, ketones, alkanes, alkenes, aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons decreased. Sulphur compounds and pyrazines were formed and increased continuously during processing. In the final Jinhua ham, the contents of aldehydes, carboxylic acids, alcohols and ketones were 45.07%, 18.39%, 13.93% and 9.00% of the total flavor substances, respectively. The first principal component was a group dominated by five unbranched aldehydes; the second principal component was a group dominated by five branched and unbranched alcohols, two branched ketones, toluene, hexane and 4-nitrophthalamide. The two principal components explained 90.6% of the total flavor variance in Jinhua ham.     

Mass spectrometric evidence for a zinc-porphyrin complex as the red pigment in dry-cured Iberian and Parma ham

Extracts containing red pigment complexes from the two types of dry-cured hams, Italian Parma and Spanish Iberian ham, were obtained using water and acetone as extraction solvents followed by a crude purification with C18 column filtration. The purified extracts were then analyzed spectroscopically by recording absorption and fluorescence spectra (λ(ex)=420nm), which both indicate the presence of chemically identical red chromophores with properties similar to a complex of transition metals and protoporphyrin IX. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the positive ion mode confirms the presence of identical chemical compounds. ESI-MS in the negative ion mode detects a cluster of seven isotopologue ions (that of m/z 623.2 as the most intense) with a pattern matching that of a Zn protoporphyrin IX complex. Based on mass spectral data it is concluded that a Zn-porphyrin complex constitutes a major chromophore in dry-cured Iberian ham as well as in Parma ham.     

盐含量对金华火腿中脂质水解的影响

考察盐含量对金华火腿中的内源酶活力及游离脂肪酸含量的影响.将原料腿分成2组,分别进行低盐(8%)和高盐(浓度12%)处理.取原料腿、腌制结束期、风干结束期、成熟1期、成熟2期、后熟期的股二头肌部位分别测定其中盐含量、内源酶活力和游离脂肪酸的含量.结果显示:在整个生产工艺中,盐含量不断升高,低盐样品从0.19%上升到8.42%,高盐样品从0.19%上升到9.77%:内源酶活力不断下降,且高盐处理的样品的内源酶活力低于低盐处理样品;总的游离脂肪酸含量呈现上升趋势,其中棕榈酸、油酸和亚油酸是主要的脂肪酸,亚油酸是重要的风味前体物质.盐含量对脂质水解作用的影响不大.     

云南干腌火腿加工过程中肌肉组织理化特性和氧化稳定性研究

云腿是我国一类重要的传统肉制品。研究通过对加工过程中的云腿肌肉组织进行理化指标测定,初步确定了云腿的理化特性和氧化稳定性。结果显示随着加工工艺的进行,云腿肌肉组织中pH缓慢上升,aw值逐渐下降。股二头肌和半膜肌中的食盐含量分别增加到7.94%和6.75%。水分含量到了平衡期之后快速下降,蛋白质和脂肪含量相对增加。肌内脂肪和蛋白质氧化持续进行,但是总体上处于较低的氧化水平。TBARS值先增加后降低,半膜肌中的蛋白质氧化程度强于股二头肌。     

感官评价在干腌火腿中的应用

干腌火腿是一种具有特殊风味的传统肉制品。通过分析特殊风味物质与感官分析之间的相关性,从而确定感观分析方法并重点介绍了感官评价在干腌火腿的质量控制以及研究过程中的应用。     

Time-related changes in volatile compounds of lean tissue during processing of French dry-cured ham

The Biceps femoris muscles from 50 hams were used in the study. Ten samples were taken for analysis on the day after slaughter. Forty hams were drycured and taken for analysis by groups of 10 at days 74, 81, 179 and 273 after the beginning of processing. Volatile compounds were extracted from the middle part of the Biceps femoris muscle by dynamic headspace extraction, then analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. More than 100 peaks were detected, among which 74 were identified and 52 were quantified. Most identified compounds originated from either lipid oxidation or amino acid degradation. The total quantity of extracted compounds increased dramatically between day 0 and day 74. Propanone was by far the most abundant compound, followed by the other ketones, alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons (66·5, 9·9, 9·2 and 8·4% of the total chromatogram area, respectively, at the end of processing). The levels of individual compounds varied greatly during processing. There was some evidence of independence between the reactions producing volatile compounds from lipids and those involving amino acids.     

金华火腿现代化生产过程中脂质及内源酶的变化特点

考察在控温控湿的现代化生产中,金华火腿脂质的变化情况.以期为优化工艺提供理论基础.取预腌、腌制结束、风干中期、风干结束、成熟1、成熟2、成熟3和后熟阶段的金华火腿的股二头肌部位的样品,分别测定样品中脂肪酶活力、磷脂酶活力、酸价和TBA值.结果显示,在整个生产过程中,脂肪酶活力不断下降,在成熟1之前的下降速率要明显快于之后的阶段;酸价分别从预腌时期1.695 mg KOH/g样品上升到后熟阶段的4.623 mg KOH/g样品;而TBA值开始上升,在风干阶段出现最大值,而后下降,但下降变化不明显.与传统工艺相比,各指标的变化上并没有太大的区别,但在生产的时间上大大缩短了.     

Dipeptidyl peptidase activities along the processing of Serrano dry-cured ham

The activity of pork muscle dipeptidyl peptidases I, II, III, and IV was followed during the processing of Serrano dry-cured ham. The effects of NaCl, pH, and temperature on these enzymes have also been studied for a better understanding of their importance in ham processing. The lysosomal enzymes DPP I and DPP II showed maximal activity at pH around 5.5-6.0, i.e., close to the pH in ham. At low temperatures, only DPP I and DPP IV showed relevant activity. NaCl considerably inhibited DPP activities except DPP I which was only slightly affected. Dipeptidyl peptidases remained active during the whole process except DPP II whose activity disappeared after 240 days of dry-curing.     

Lipolysis in dry-cured ham: Influence of salt content and processing conditions

Fatty acid composition of neutral lipids (NLs), polar lipids (PLs) and free fatty acids (FFA) from the intramuscular fat of Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris muscles was analysed in 46 Iberian dry-cured hams processed with different amounts of salt (6% high salt batch – HS vs. 3% low salt batch – LS w/w) and different processing systems (traditional – T vs. modified – M).

Total amounts of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids in NLs decreased in similar proportions during processing of the hams as well as SFA, MUFA and PUFA in the PL fraction, whereas the amounts of SFA, MUFA and PUFA of FFAs significantly increased in Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris muscles. The amount of total fatty acids (TFA), from NLs and PLs, decreased in both muscles throughout the processing. Such a decline was more intense in HS hams than in LS ones, which could be a sign of a promoting effect of sodium chloride on lipolysis. However, the increase in FFA content throughout processing was not more intense in HS hams. Processing conditions studied in this work did not affect the changes in the fatty acid content of each fraction.     

葡萄籽提取物对火腿发酵成熟过程脂质氧化的影响

脂质分解氧化是干腌火腿工艺过程中一个主要的生化反应过程,对干腌火腿风味形成具有十分重要的作用,但脂质过度氧化对火腿品质安全也会产生重大影响。本文采用天然抗氧化剂-葡萄籽提取物对传统发酵工艺火腿进行抗氧化处理,研究其对火腿脂质的抗氧化效果。结果显示:抗氧化处理组在发酵成熟时期能有效抑制火腿脂质氧化。成熟结束时,经葡萄籽提取物（GSE）抗氧化处理的火腿半膜肌过氧化值（POV）、TBA值、羰基值和双烯值分别比对照组降低了57%、48%、29%、18%;表层脂肪降低了60%、24%、42%、36%;而经葡萄籽提取物和猪油联合处理的火腿（GSE+Lard）半膜肌各氧化指标分别比对照组降低了20%、8%、14%、6%;表层脂肪降低了27%、5%、25%、24%。GSE处理组抗氧化效果优于GSE+Lard处理组。