Potential applications of plant based derivatives as fat replacers,antioxidants and antimicrobials in fresh and processed meat products

Growing concern about diet and health has led to development of healthier food products. In general consumer perception towards the intake of meat and meat products is unhealthy because it may increase the risk of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, obesity and cancer, because of its high fat content (especially saturated fat) and added synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. Addition of plant derivatives having antioxidant components including vitamins A, C and E, minerals, polyphenols, flavanoids and terpenoids in meat products may decrease the risk of several degenerative diseases. To change consumer attitudes towards meat consumption, the meat industry is undergoing major transformations by addition of nonmeat ingredients as animal fat replacers, natural antioxidants and antimicrobials, preferably derived from plant sources.     

Wine industry residues extracts as natural antioxidants in raw and cooked chicken meat during frozen storage

The effect of Isabel (IGE) and Niagara (NGE) grape seed and peel extracts on lipid oxidation, instrumental colour, pH and sensory properties of raw and cooked processed chicken meat stored at -18°C for nine months was evaluated. The pH of raw and cooked samples was not affected by the addition of grape extracts. IGE and NGE were effective in inhibiting the lipid oxidation of raw and cooked chicken meat, with results comparable to synthetic antioxidants. The extracts caused alterations in colour, as evidenced by the instrumental (darkening and lower intensity of red and yellow colour) and sensory results of cooked samples. In the sensory evaluation of odour and flavour, IGE produced satisfactory results, which did not differ from synthetic antioxidants. These findings suggest that the IGE and NGE are effective in retarding lipid oxidation of raw and cooked chicken meat during frozen storage.     

Natural antioxidants in meat and poultry products

In response to recent claims that synthetic antioxidants have the potential to cause toxicological effects and consumers' increased interest in purchasing natural products, the meat and poultry industry has been seeking sources of natural antioxidants. Due to their high phenolic compound content, fruits and other plant materials provide a good alternative to conventional antioxidants. Plum, grape seed extract, cranberry, pomegranate, bearberry, pine bark extract, rosemary, oregano, and other spices functions as antioxidants in meat and poultry products. Pomegranate, pine bark extract, cinnamon, and cloves have exhibited stronger antioxidant properties than some synthetic options. Plum products, grape seed extract, pine bark extract, rosemary, and some spices all have been shown to affect the color of finished meat or poultry products; however, in some products such as pork sausage or uncured meats, an increase in red color may be desired. When selecting a natural antioxidant, sensory and quality impact on the product should be considered to achieve desired traits.     

Protection of fish feed, made directly from marine raw materials, with natural antioxidants

The present experiments were designed to study the effects of different natural antioxidants in an experimental fish feed, made directly from marine raw materials. A rosemary extract (Herbalox^®) and crystalline ascorbic acid were the most effective antioxidants in this feed and the effect of ascorbic acid was enhanced by adding a tocopherol mix. Ascorbyl palmitate, citric acid, a phosphate mix designed to enhance the effect of ascorbic acid, and spermine had minor antioxidant effects, no effect or pro-oxidant effects. It was necessary to add higher concentrations of the rosemary extract than the vitamin C/E combination to obtain an optimal antioxidant effect. A minor effect of adding ethoxyquin to a diet with tocopherol mix and ascorbic acid was detected in one of the experiments, but this effect was not reproduced in the other experiments. It is therefore concluded that the diet used in the present study can be protected against oxidation using natural antioxidants. Since antioxidants must be tested in the oxidising system in which they are going to be used, the present results have to be confirmed before applying them to commercial fish feeds and feed ingredients.     

肉食品中的胆固醇氧化物

胆固醇是肌肉组织的一种组分。新鲜肉中不存在胆固醇氧化物。内在长期贮存和加热中生成胆固醇氧化物。肉食品中的胆固醇氧化物对人的健康有害。肉中胆固醇氧化物的总量与肉的脂类氧化物存在着线性相关。在饲料中添加生育酚以提高内源性生育酚，其动物的肉制品中胆固醇氧化物明显减少。     

天然抗氧化物质对肉制品中杂环胺生成的影响

杂环胺常见于如禽肉、鱼肉等富含蛋白质的热加工肉制品中,是一类杂环芳香族化合物。杂环胺具有极强的致癌致突变性,通常在肉制品于100℃及以上的高温烹制过程中产生。长期摄入具有高含量杂环胺的肉制品,会增加消费者患肿瘤患癌的风险。天然抗氧化物质具有抗氧化活性,且毒性小,安全性高,现已普遍应用于肉制品加工领域。通过添加天然抗氧化物质抑制肉制品中杂环胺的生成是当前研究热点。本文简要介绍了杂环胺的分类、形成等,并重点综述了近10年天然抗氧化物质对肉制品杂环胺形成的影响研究进展,其中,重点围绕多酚类化合物、黄酮类化合物、香辛料3类具有代表性的天然抗氧化物质对肉制品中杂环胺形成的影响进行了详尽的阐述。最后对未来的研究提出了展望。     

Effect of natural antioxidant combinations on lipid oxidation in cooked chicken meat during refrigerated storage

The effect of combinations of sage, oregano and honey on lipid oxidation in cooked chicken meat during refrigeration at 4°C for 96h was determined. Chicken samples (thigh and breast) were then separated into five groups: control; butylated hydroxytoluene; oregano+sage; oregano+sage+5%honey and oregano+sage+10%honey. Quantitative measurements of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, conjugated dienes, hexanal, fatty acids, cholesterol and cholesterol oxides were used as indicators of lipid oxidation. Acceptability and preference were also evaluated. The effectiveness of the natural antioxidants for reducing the velocity of lipid oxidation in cooked chicken thigh and breast was demonstrated after 48 and 96h of refrigeration at 4°C. The treatments that presented the lowest hexanal values after 96h of refrigeration were oregano+sage+5%honey and oregano+sage+10%honey. Only traces of free cholesterol oxides were found (25-OH, 7-k, 7α-OH and 7β-OH). The natural antioxidants protected cooked chicken meat from oxidation processes and resulted in great acceptability.     

Evaluation of different natural antioxidants as affecting volatile lipid oxidation products related to off-flavours in corn flakes

Different types of natural antioxidants (tocopherols – alone, in two different doses, or combined with ascorbic acid – and a rosemary extract) were employed in the production of corn flakes, to select the most effective ones for achieving low levels of volatile lipid oxidation products, related to off-flavours, after long-term storage. Samples were submitted to SPME/GC/MS and sensory analyses. Multivariate analysis elucidated the contribution of the volatile compounds to the sensory properties of corn flakes. Under the experimental conditions, tocopherols conferred better antioxidant activity than did rosemary extract, leading to low levels of off-flavour compounds, with a further improvement provided by the synergistic activity of ascorbic acid. This could be attributed to interfacial and phase partitioning phenomena involving antioxidants, depending on their lipo- or hydrophilicity, in heterogeneous food products. Acids, n-alkanols, lactones and some aldehydes appeared to have a considerable influence on the intensity of the off-flavours.     

The effect of natural antioxidants on haemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation during enzymatic hydrolysis of cod protein

Heating and changes in pH often practised during fish protein hydrolysis can cause lipid oxidation. The effect of natural antioxidants towards haemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation during enzymatic hydrolysis of cod proteins was investigated. Different variants of a washed cod model system, containing different combinations of haemoglobin and natural antioxidants (l-ascorbic acid and Fuscus vesiculosus extract), were hydrolysed using Protease P “Amano” 6 at pH 8 and 36 °C to achieve 20% degree of hydrolysis. Lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were analysed periodically during the hydrolysis process. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the final products was investigated. Results indicate that oxidation can develop rapidly during hydrolysis and antioxidant strategies are preferable to produce good quality products. Oxidation products did not have an impact on the in vitro antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates. The natural antioxidants inhibited oxidation during hydrolysis and contributed to the antioxidant activity of the final product.     

Utilization of adzuki bean extract as a natural antioxidant in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages

A commercial adzuki bean extract (AE) was evaluated for antioxidant effectiveness in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages. TBARS values, instrumental color evaluation and sensory panel scores were assessed. For uncured sausages, AE at 0.2% was equally effective as 0.1% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in reducing TBARS values. Similarly, AE at 0.2% significantly (P<0.01) reduced the TBARS in cured sausages. Incorporation of 0.2% AE into sausages produced higher (P<0.05) CIE lab color a* value and lower (P<0.05) L* and b* values. Sensory panels did not detect any difference in color, odor, taste, flavor, and overall acceptance in uncured pork sausages with addition of 0.2% AE. However, there were adverse changes in the color and odor of cured sausages, even though the taste, flavor, and overall acceptance were similar. Therefore, the results suggest that AE is a potential antioxidant.     

肉和肉制品中脂质氧化的研究进展

肉和肉制品在加工、贮藏和运输的过程中容易发生脂质氧化,影响肉制品的品质。脂质适度氧化可以促进肉制品的风味,但是脂质过度氧化还可能产生有毒有害物质,增加食用风险。脂质氧化反应产生的初级产物及次级产物化学性质不稳定,容易与肉中的其他成分(蛋白质、血红素、抗氧化添加剂等)发生反应从而影响肉制品的品质。因此,调控脂质氧化对肉及肉制品来说非常重要。本文主要综述了脂质的酶促氧化、自动氧化、脂质氧化与蛋白质氧化之间的关系。大量研究表明,脂质氧化过程复杂且受诸多因素和条件的影响,研究氧化过程及氧化机制对调控脂质氧化和提高食品品质的稳定性具有重要意义。     

Antioxidant activity of Carob fruit extracts in cooked pork meat systems during chilled and frozen storage

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding condensed tannins in the form of non-purified (Liposterine^®) or purified (Exxenterol^®) extracts obtained from Carob fruit to prevent lipid cooked pork meat systems from oxidising during chilling and frozen storage. The antioxidant activity of these extracts was compared with that of α-tocopherol. Meat lipid alteration was evaluated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content (TBARS) and polar material-related triglyceride compounds followed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). TBARS levels were lower (P < 0.05) in samples containing Liposterine (LM), Exxenterol (EM), and α-tocopherol (TM) than in control sample (CM) under chilled storage. TBARS formation was similar (P > 0.05) for LM and EM but lower (P < 0.05) than for TM. Polar material increased several times in all samples, but significantly less in TM and EM than in LM. Thermal oxidation compounds determined by HPSEC were lower (P < 0.05) in EM than in LM or TM. The changes in polar material were proportionally smaller after six months frozen storage than after chilled storage, with Exxenterol displaying the highest antioxidant protection. Therefore Carob fruit extracts can be successfully used to reduce fat alteration in cooked pork meat at chilled and frozen temperatures.     

Avocado by-products as inhibitors of color deterioration and lipid and protein oxidation in raw porcine patties subjected to chilled storage

Processing of avocados generates an important amount of by-products such as peels and seeds that are rich in bioactive substances with proven radical suppressing activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of peel and seed extracts from two avocado varieties-'Hass' and 'Fuerte'-as inhibitors of lipid and protein oxidation and color deterioration of raw porcine patties during chilled storage (4 °C/15 days). Avocado extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced the loss of redness and the increase of lightness during storage of porcine patties. 'Fuerte' extracts were more efficient at inhibiting discoloration of chilled patties than 'Hass' extracts. Patties treated with avocado extracts had significantly lower amounts of TBA-RS than control ones throughout the storage. 'Hass' avocado extracts significantly inhibited the formation of protein carbonyls in chilled patties at day 15. The present results highlight the potential usage of extracts from avocado by-products as ingredients for the production of muscle foods with enhanced quality traits.     

Plant extracts combined with vitamin E in PUFA-rich diets of cull cows protect processed beef against lipid oxidation

The effect of supplementing PUFA-rich cull cow diets with vitamin E (2.8 g/animal/day) or vitamin E plus plant extracts rich in polyphenols (PERP) (126 g/animal/day), for 101 ± 3 days preceding slaughter, on the oxidative stability of longissimus thoracis (LT) and semitendinosus (ST) steaks was evaluated after ageing (for 12 d at 4 °C either in carcass or under-vacuum) and packaging (14 d under-vacuum (V), 4 d aerobic (A) and 7 d under modified atmosphere (70:30, O₂/CO₂) (MA)). The ageing method had no effect on a beef lipid oxidation intensity marker (malondialdehyde (MDA)), whereas packaging systems containing O₂ (A and MA) significantly increased lipid oxidation intensity (5 and 13 times higher than under V, respectively). Adding antioxidants to diets of animals given a PUFA-rich diet significantly improved lipid stability in steaks; the combination of vitamin E and PERP was more efficient than vitamin E alone for the most deleterious beef packaging.     

Natural antioxidants protecting irradiated beef burgers from lipid oxidation

The effect of butylated hydroxytoluene/butylated hydroxyanisole blend (BHT/BHA), and rosemary and oregano extracts, added individually or in combination, on lipid oxidation and fatty acid composition was investigated on irradiated frozen beef burgers. Irradiation treatment was carried out using a ⁶⁰CO semi-industrial irradiator at doses of 6, 7 and 8 kGy, and then the treated meat samples were stored at −20 °C for 90 days. Lipid oxidation and fatty acid composition of beef samples were evaluated by measurement of TBARS and gas chromatography, respectively. The results of the experiment showed that rosemary extract, applied alone and in combination with either BHT/BHA or oregano extract, was more effective in maintaining a low oxidation level in the samples compared to oregano extract used individually or in combination with BHT/BHA. Results also showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in fatty acid composition in all analyzed samples, although some changes in terms of decreased PUFA and MUFA, beside of slight increase of SFA content were observed. However, these differences do not correlate positively neither with the irradiation dose nor the type of antioxidant. Thus, there is a potential application of these spices as natural antioxidants in irradiated meats.     

Oil-in-water emulsions as a delivery system for n-3 fatty acids in meat products

The oxidative and physical stabilities of oil-in-water emulsions containing n-3 fatty acids (25 wt.% oil, 2.5 wt.% whey protein, pH 3.0 or pH 6.0), and their subsequent incorporation into meat products were investigated. The physical stability of fish oil emulsions was excellent and neither coalescence nor aggregation occurred during storage. Oxidative stability was better at pH 6.0 compared to pH 3.0 likely due to antioxidative continuous phase proteins. Incorporation of fish oil emulsions into pork sausages led to an increase in oxidation compared to sausages without the added fish oil emulsion. Confocal microscopy of pork sausages with fish oil emulsions revealed that droplets had coalesced in the meat matrix over time which may have contributed to the decreased oxidative stability. Results demonstrate that although interfacial engineering of n-3 fatty acids containing oil-in-water emulsions provides physical and oxidative stability of the base-emulsion, their incorporation into complex meat matrices is a non-trivial undertaking and products may incur changes in quality over time.     

Recent developments of natural antimicrobials and antioxidants on fish and fishery food products

Fish and fishery products (FFP) are highly perishable due to their high nutritional value and moisture content. The spoilage is mainly caused by microorganisms and chemical reactions, especially lipid oxidation, leading to losses in quality and market value. Microbiological and lipid deteriorations of fishery-derived products directly lower their nutritive value and pose the risk of toxicity for human health. Increasing demand for safe FFP brings about the preservation using additives from natural origins without chemical additives due to their safety and strict regulation. Antimicrobials and antioxidants from natural sources have exhibited an excellent control over the growth of microorganisms causing fish spoilage via different mechanisms. They also play a major role in retarding lipid oxidation by acting at various stages of oxidation. Antimicrobials and antioxidants from natural sources are usually regarded as safe with no detrimental effects on the quality attributes of FFP. This review provides recent literature on the different antioxidant and antimicrobial agents from natural sources, focusing on microbial and oxidative spoilage mechanisms, their inhibition system, and their applications to retard spoilage, maintain safety, and extend the shelf life of FFP. Their applications and benefits have been revisited.     

Assessment of the antioxidant potential of selected plant extracts – In vitro and in vivo experiments on pork

The antioxidant potential of selected plant extracts was assessed in vitro and in vivo experiments on pork. In the in vitro experiment, the anti-oxidative capacity of ethanol–water extract of Melissa officinalis (MW), ethanol–propylene–glycol extracts of M. officinalis (MP), Origanum vulgaris (O) and Salvia officinalis (S) at different dilutions was analysed. Furthermore a 2% essential oil concentrate was added to Origanum (OSi) and Salvia (SSi). In the two in vivo experiments in total 104 Slovak White Meaty pigs were fed with plant extracts (MW and O) at different doses with/without additional vitamin E.     

Stability of catalase and its potential role in lipid oxidation in meat

The activity of catalase in microbial growth-controlled and uncontrolled ground beef muscle (semimembranosus, SM) did not change (P>0.05) during 6-day storage at 4°C. Likewise, catalase activity in ground, beef SM and longissimus dorsi (LD), pork LD, and chicken breast (B) and thigh (T) muscles was not affected (P>0.05) by 2-month storage at −20°C, with or without mid-month thawing/refreezing. When sodium azide (a catalase inhibitor) was added to ground beef SM, lipid oxidation (as measured by peroxide values) during 4-day refrigeration was higher (P<0.05) in treated samples — 43 and 55% higher at day 2 and day 4, respectively — than in the controls. It was concluded that catalase would be stable during meat storage/distribution and contribute significantly to the antioxidative process in raw meat products.