Partial characterisation of gelatinolytic activities in herring (Clupea harengus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) possibly involved in post-mortem autolysis of ventral muscle

The present work aims at identifying enzymatic activities that may contribute to the post-mortem autolysis of the ventral muscle, known as belly bursting, in herring (Clupea harengus). Gelatinolytic proteases extracted from several herring tissues and also from a sardine (Sardina pilchardus) tissue were partially characterised using gelatin zymography, inhibitor analysis, immunodetection with anti-trypsin antibody and MALDI-TOF/TOF peptide sequencing. The results indicate the presence of gelatinolytic trypsin-like serine proteases and metalloproteases in several samples including the ventral muscle of herring. MS/MS analysis gave partial sequences of peptides from some of the proteases, and these were identified as elastase, trypsin and aspartyl aminopeptidase. It is likely that belly bursting in herring is caused by leakage of enzyme-rich fluids from the intestine and/or pyloric caeca which may also contain exogenous proteases from the digestive systems of the prey.     

Non-destructive nuclear magnetic resonance image study of belly bursting in herring (Clupea harengus)

Herring (Clupea harengus) captured during the heavy feeding spring season were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. MRI was performed at room temperature on the frozen-thawed herring for approximately 50 h. The results showed that the stomachs were filled with prey and that they were very resistant to degradation. The ventral muscle, on the other hand, together with the upper part of the intestine (as confirmed during collection of samples on board fishing vessels), seemed to be the most sensible structures where the autolysis commenced and extended to the rest of the abdominal cavity.     

Effect of alkaline pH-shift processing on in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of herring (Clupea harengus) fillets

The effect of alkaline pH-shift processing on herring (Clupea harengus) protein oxidation, salt solubility and digestibility, has been evaluated. For the latter, herring mince and pH-shift produced herring protein isolate, both raw and heat-treated, were digested using a static gastrointestinal in vitro model. The pH-shift process resulted in drastically lowered protein salt solubility and increased lipid oxidation while protein carbonyl formation was unaffected. Yet, no significant differences in the degree of hydrolysis (DH) were observed between mince and isolates after completed gastrointestinal digestion, something which was confirmed by a similar release of proteinaceous material <3 kDa and similar free amino acid profiles. The polypeptide profiles of digested samples however revealed that two peptides (33 and 36 kDa) were present in larger amounts in the digested protein isolate compared to the digested herring mince. The results indicate that alkaline pH-shift processing had limited quantitative influence on the gastrointestinal digestibility of herring proteins despite its negative effects on protein salt solubility and lipid oxidation.     

Effects of the smoking process on odour characteristics of smoked herring (Clupea harengus) and relationships with phenolic compound content

The relationship between smoking parameters and odour characteristics, evaluated by a trained sensory panel, were studied on smoked herring. In addition, a possible correlation between the content of 10 phenolic compounds and sensory perceptions was investigated. Five smoking techniques were applied, combining smoke production conditions, performed by pyrolysis of beech wood sawdust or by friction of beech wood log, with smoke deposition, either in a controlled kiln (traditional smoking) or by an electrostatic process. In the fifth smoking technique, a purified condensate of beech smokes was vaporised on fish fillets in the smokehouse. The time of smoking was 3 h for traditional smoking and the liquid smoke atomisation process and 12 min for the electrostatic method. The effects of three smoking temperatures (16, 24, 32 °C) were tested for both the traditional and the liquid smoke atomisation processes, as well as the effect of the position of the exhaust valve in the smokehouse in the case of the traditional method. Two different voltages were applied for the electrostatic process, 37 and 42 kV.     

Identification and sensory evaluation of flavour enhancers in Japanese traditional dried herring (Clupea pallasii) fillet

Flavour-enhancing components of dried herring fillet (migaki-nishin in Japanese) were isolated and evaluated for their effects on sensory perception. Sensory evaluation revealed that addition of dried herring fillet water-soluble extracts to Japanese noodle soup significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced soup flavour characters, such as thickness, mouthfulness and continuity. The extracts were fractionated by dialysis and chromatography. Fractions containing flavour enhancers were isolated by sensory perception. Results from instrumental analyses showed that the kokumi flavour enhancers in dried herring fillet were creatine and creatinine.     

Antioxidant activity of hydrolysates obtained from scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) and abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) muscle

Scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) and abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) muscle were hydrolysed with commercially available food-grade proteases. The resulting hydrolysates showed DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging abilities, reducing power, and ferrous ion chelating capacity. The antioxidant activities of hydrolysate of abalone foot muscle (HAFM) increased with increasing incubation time during the whole hydrolysis process in 180 min. Whereas, the antioxidant activities of hydrolysate of scallop adductor muscle (HSAM) increased at initial stage and peaked after 25-30 min of hydrolysis, and then gradually decreased thereafter. Compared with HAFM, HSAM with comparable hydrolysis time contained more free amino acids (FAA) and small-sized peptides (below 500 Da), which may account for the differences in antioxidant activities versus hydrolysis time curves of the two hydrolysates. The above results indicate that limited hydrolysis of proteins can increase their antioxidant activity, whereas extensive hydrolysis can decrease it.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Gaylussacia brasiliensis (camarinha) grown in Brazil

This paper presents the centesimal and mineral composition, fatty acid profile of the lipidic fraction, phenolic and anthocyanin contents, and antioxidant activity of Gaylussacia brasiliensis fruit. The results indicated the following composition: moisture (81.30%), lipids (0.62%), proteins (0.56%), carbohydrates (10.74%), dietary fiber (6.53%), and ash (0.25%). The main elements comprising the mineral composition were K, Mg, Ca, and Fe. The fatty acid composition was characterized by a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (62.2%) and a high PUFA/SFA ratio (2.92). The G. brasiliensis fruit contained considerable amounts of phenolics (492.87 mgAG/100 g) and anthocyanins (240.43 mg/100 g), which contribute to its high antioxidant activity. This study highlights the potential of this fruit as an important source of both nutritional and bioactive compounds available in the native Brazilian flora.     

Inhibitory effect of sour orange (Citrus aurantium) juice on Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes

The sour orange (Citrus aurantium) juice is commonly used as flavoring and acidifying agent for vegetable salads and appetizers in Turkey. It was aimed to determine the survival and growth pattern of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in sour orange juice. Different concentrations of neutralized and un-neutralized juice samples were inoculated with each of the test microorganisms (∼6 log CFU/mL) separately and then incubated at 4 °C and 37 °C for seven days. It was detected both of the test microorganisms could survive and even grow in neutralized juice samples at 37 °C for two days. However, none of them could survive at the end of seventh day of incubation at 37 °C. Low incubation temperature (+4 °C) increased the survival of the tested microorganisms. Also, it was detected that L. monocytogenes were less resistant to the variable conditions than S. Typhimurium. It was concluded that the antimicrobial effect of sour orange juice mainly depends on the low pH value of the product. However, incubation time and temperature are also effective on the survival of the tested pathogens.     

Effect of various inhibitors on enzymatic browning,antioxidant activity and total phenol content of fresh lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

In this study, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was isolated from fresh lettuce. Its optimum temperature and pH were found to be 40 °C and 7.0, respectively. Lettuce PPO was shown to use catechin, catechol, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid as substrates. Among the substrates used, the greatest substrate specificity was observed with chlorogenic acid. Lettuce PPO was sensitive to some inhibitors. Ascorbic acid, cysteine, oxalic acid and citric acid were tested as potential inhibitors of lettuce PPO. Cysteine was the most effective inhibitor. Total phenol and total antioxidant activity contents were also determined in the presence of these inhibitors at room and refrigerator temperatures. Ascorbic acid and cysteine increased the total antioxidant activity of lettuce while citric and oxalic acids had no effect on the total antioxidant activity. Lettuce phenolics were protected from oxidation by ascorbic acid and cysteine.     

The polymorphisms of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) genes and their association with the fatty acid profile of muscle and subcutaneous fat in Fleckvieh bulls

The previously reported genetic polymorphisms of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) genes were investigated in Fleckvieh bulls using the PCR-RFLP and AS-PCR methods, respectively. The genomic DNA was obtained from a total of 370 bulls. The frequencies of alleles A and V of the single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 5 of the SCD1 gene (SNP 878C>T) were 0.555 and 0.445, respectively. In the 84-bp Ins/Del polymorphism in intron 5 of the SREBP-1 gene, the frequency of the L allele (insertion) was markedly higher (0.920) than that of the S allele (deletion; 0.080). Fatty acid profile was determined in a total of 367 samples of muscle fat (MSF) and 150 samples of subcutaneous fat (SCF). The AA genotype of SCD1 polymorphism showed a lower content of C18:0 (P < 0.01) and higher contents of C14:1 cis-9 (P < 0.001) and C18:1 cis-9 (P < 0.05) in MSF compared to the VV genotype. As a result, the bulls with genotypes AA or AV had lower SFA (P < 0.01), higher MUFA (P < 0.05) and higher MUFA/SFA (P < 0.01) than VV animals. The results obtained for SCF were similar. The SREBP-1 polymorphism was associated with a higher content of C14:1 cis-9 (P < 0.01) in the LS compared to LL genotype in SCF. The results of this study demonstrated the existence of the polymorphisms in the SCD1 and SREBP-1 genes in the population of Fleckvieh cattle and their associations with the concentrations of several MSF and SCF fatty acids.     

Changes in water holding capacity and drip loss of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) muscle during superchilled storage

Changes in water holding capacity and drip loss of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets during superchilled storage were studied. Due to the significant differences in ice crystal sizes observed in our previous study, the liquid loss (LL) was analysed separately, at the surface and centre of the superchilled samples. No significant differences were found in LL between surface and centre parts of the superchilled samples. No significant difference in the LL was observed from surface samples between 1 and 14 days of storage. There was a significant difference in the LL at day 1 of the centre samples, but no significant differences were observed between 3 and 14 days of storage. In contrast, the LL was significantly decreased at day 21 both at the centre and the surface of the superchilled samples. No significant difference (p < 0.05) was found in drip loss between 1 and 14 days of storage for the superchilled samples. A significant increase in drip loss for the superchilled samples was observed at day 21. These findings are significant for the industry because it provides valuable information on the quality of food in relation to ice crystallisation/recrystallisation during superchilled storage.     

Potent antibacterial property of APC protein from curry leaves (Murraya koenigii L.)

A monomeric protein with molecular mass of ∼35 kDa, isolated from Murraya Koenigii L. (curry leaves) shows potent antibacterial activity. The protein designated as APC (antioxidant protein from curry leaves) demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against all the human pathogenic strains tested. APC effectively inhibited Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus subtilis. The inhibition is comparable to that of commercial antibiotics chloramphenicol, streptomycin and gentamycin. APC inhibited bacterial growth, with MIC values ranging from 13 to 24 μg/ml, which are comparable to MIC values of standard antibiotics. APC is devoid of ribonuclease/deoxyribonuclease and protease activity. APC is non-toxic at tested doses. These results encourage further studies of APC as a potent therapeutic agent.     

The importance of almond (Prunus amygdalus L.) and its by-products

Almond fruit consists of three or correctly four portions: kernel or meat, middle shell, outer green shell cover or almond hull and a thin leathery layer known as brown skin of meat or seedcoat. The nutritional importance of almond fruit is related to its kernel. Other parts of fruit such as shells and hulls were used as livestock feed and burned as fuel. In the past decades, different phenolic compounds were characterised and identified in almond seed extract and its skin, shell and hull as almond by-products. In addition, polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in the human diet, and evidence for their role in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases is emerging. The health effects of polyphenols depend on the amount consumed and on their bioavailability. In this contribution, various phenolic compounds present in almond and its by-products, their antioxidant properties and potential use as natural dietary antioxidant, as well as their other beneficial compounds and applications are reviewed.     

Automatic, rapid screening of seed resistance in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers, to the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) using acoustic monitoring

The biomonitor technique was investigated as a rapid and automatic method for measuring the resistance of cowpea varieties to the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. This technique measures the activity of internally feeding insect larvae by counting ultrasonic emissions produced as they feed. Activity throughout the development of C. maculatus larvae in known susceptible and resistant cowpea varieties was recorded. This showed details of the development of each larval instar, and showed clear differences between the resistant and susceptible cowpeas. A rapid method for comparing cowpeas was proposed in which the activity of larvae was recorded for 24 h starting 14 days after oviposition. Using this method, significant differences in activity were apparent between one susceptible and two resistant cowpea varieties. Further comparisons using a randomised block experimental design also showed a clear difference in activity between one susceptible and one known resistant cowpea variety. This experimental protocol took 21 days. It is suggested that the biomonitor offers a promising method for screening seeds for resistance to insect pests with a reduction in the time and effort required over conventional bioassay methods.     

Properties and antimicrobial activity of edible films incorporated with kiam wood (Cotyleobium lanceotatum) extract

The antimicrobial properties of wood extracts are well known; however their application to edible films is limited. In this study, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of kiam wood extract was established as 300 mg/L at which bacterial growth was completely inhibited. The antimicrobial properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films containing 1-5 fold of MBC of kiam wood extract were tested against Escherichia coli O175:H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The edible films containing kiam wood extract exhibited more effective impact on the growth reduction of L. monocytogenes than S. aureus and E. coli (p < 0.05). The use of kiam wood extract at 1 and 2 fold of MBC incorporated into edible HPMC films did not exhibit any antimicrobial activity. However, the inhibitory effect of edible HPMC films containing kiam wood extract was observed at 3, 4 and 5 fold of MBC. The greatest zone of inhibition was observed at 5 fold of MBC incorporated in edible HPMC films. Tensile strength and elongation at break significantly decreased with the incorporation of kiam wood extract, whereas water vapor permeability and film solubility increased. The color of edible films became darker and more reddish-yellowish as well as having a lower transparency as the level of kiam wood extract was increased. Kiam wood extract incorporated in edible film provided the films with a rougher surface than pure edible film. Our results pointed out that the incorporation of kiam wood extract as a natural antibacterial agent has potential for use in extending the shelf life of food products.     

Chilled storage of golden gray mullet (Liza aurata)

This study determined quality changes of whole ungutted golden gray mullet (Liza aurata) while stored in ice or in a refrigerator (without ice). Changes in microbiological quality (total viable and psychrophilic counts, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), chemical quality (pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid, and free fatty acids), and raw fish sensory attributes were evaluated during 16 days of storage. The sensory attributes of golden gray mullet correlated well with the microbiological analyses (r = 0.92). Based on the overall raw acceptability sensory scores and the microbiological tests, the shelf life of the raw golden gray mullet was 10 days in ice and about 14 days in a refrigerator.     

Changes in lipids and their contribution to the taste of migaki-nishin (dried herring fillet) during drying

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in lipids and their effect on the taste of migaki-nishin during drying. Lipid was extracted from herring fillets following different drying stages to measure the degree of lipid oxidation and changes in lipid composition, and fatty acid profile. Peroxide value, carbonyl value and acid value of the lipids were significantly increased (P < 0.05) during the drying period. Marked increase in free fatty acids, with decreases in triglyceride and phospholipid content were observed in proportion to drying time and this result suggested that hydrolysis was induced by lipases and phospholipases. The decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were observed in the total lipids and phospholipid fraction. In addition, significant increase in PUFAs especially DHA was found in the free fatty acid fraction. Sensory evaluation showed that an addition of DHA to mentsuyu significantly (P < 0.05) enhances the intensities of thickness, mouthfulness and continuity. These results suggest that during drying period lipid oxidation was not only occurred but also lipolysis predominantly released DHA, which might have a contribution to kokumi enhancement of migaki-nishin.     

Isolation and characterisation of collagens from the skin,scale and bone of deep-sea redfish (Sebastes mentella)

To make more effective use of underutilised resources, collagens from skin, scale and bone (SKC, SCC and BOC) of deep-sea redfish were isolated with acetic acid and characterised for their potential in commercial applications. The abundant ash and fat in the materials could be removed effectively by EDTA and hexane treatment in 24 h, with high recoveries of protein. The yield of SKC (47.5%) was significantly higher than that of SCC and BOC (6.8% and 10.3%, respectively). The denaturation temperatures of SKC, SCC and BOC were 16.1 °C, 17.7 °C and 17.5 °C, respectively, which were lower than those of most other fish species. The amino acid profiles of these collagens were similar with a low imino acid content, which might be the reason for the low denaturation temperature. All the collagens were type I mainly and maintained their triple helical structures well with slight molecular structure differences. SKC possessed a higher degree of intermolecular cross-linking and molecular order, but the extent of peptide chain unwinding was also higher, due to the existence of fewer hydrogen bonds, compared to SCC and BOC.