Kinetic study of high-intensity ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction in a model system of d-glucose and glycine.

A kinetic model for a high-intensity ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction model system of d-glucose and glycine was proposed; activation energy (Ea) for each reaction step was calculated. Results showed that the generation of dicarbonyl compounds was significantly promoted by high-intensity ultrasound (e.g. Ea values for 1-deoxyglucosone were 60.9 ±â€¯9.7 kJ mol-1 and 105.5 ±â€¯9.9 kJ mol-1 in ultrasonic and thermal Maillard reaction, respectively), which resulted in a significantly higher concentration of colored and volatile Maillard reaction products generated in ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction compared with that in thermal Maillard reaction. However, as a competitive reaction, the isomerization of d-glucose was suppressed and required significantly higher Ea values in ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction (100.8 ±â€¯6.2 kJ mol-1) compared with that in thermal Maillard reaction (84.2 ±â€¯5.7 kJ mol-1). These finding may be attributed to an extremely high temperature and pressure environment, despite of being only momentarily, generated by high-intensity ultrasound.

Effects of high-intensity ultrasound and oil type on the Maillard reaction of d-glucose and glycine in oil-in-water systems.

This study addresses the effect of high-intensity ultrasonic processing on four oil-in-water systems, using sunflower, peanut, olive and flaxseed oils, respectively, that contained an aqueous d-glucose and glycine Maillard reaction (MR) model system. The MR in the water phase was promoted as observed from higher depletion of reactants and higher amount of MR products (MRPs). A significantly higher amount of pyrazines was generated after ultrasonic processing, particularly in the sunflower and olive oil systems. These promotions were attributed to a well-mixing effect and a localised high temperature and pressure environment generated by the high-intensity ultrasound. However, upon 1 h of ultrasonic processing at 80 °C, a significant increase of oxidation was observed with high peroxide and p-anisidine values in the post-processed oils; meanwhile, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids decreased as well. As a result, some off-flavours were also detected in the post-processed oils, which affected the overall flavour profile of the MR systems.

Effects of high-intensity ultrasound on Maillard reaction in a model system of d-xylose and l-lysine.

This study compared the effects of high-intensity ultrasound on Maillard reaction (MR) with those of thermally produced MR using a model system of d-xylose and l-lysine. The ultrasonic MR process had higher depletion rates of reactants and higher generation rates of intermediate MR products (MRPs) and melanoidins under relatively low processing temperatures (55 and 60°C). However, the rates were lower for ultrasonic MR than thermal MR when the processing temperature increased to 65, 70 and 75°C. Overall, ultrasonic MR had relatively low activation energy (Ea) compared to thermal MR (e.g. 55.59 vs. 80.42kJmol-1 for d-xylose depletion). Moreover, ultrasonic MR could produce at least one N-containing pyrazine (3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine), one N-containing amine (butyl amine) and one O-containing volatile compound (maltol) that were absent from thermal MR. The difference in flavour generation might be a result of the extremely high, albeit momentary, temperature and pressure condition produced by high-intensity ultrasound.

Odor-Specific Loss of Smell Sensitivity with Age as Revealed by the Specific Sensitivity Test.

The perception of odor mixtures plays an important role in human food intake, behavior, and emotions. Decline of smell acuity with normal aging could impact food perception and preferences at various ages. However, since the landmark Smell Survey by National Geographic, little has been elucidated on differences in the onset and extent of loss in olfactory sensitivity toward single odorants. Here, using the Specific Sensitivity test, we show the onset and extent of loss in both identification and detection thresholds of odorants with age are odorant-specific. Subjects of Chinese descent in Singapore (186 women, 95 men), aged 21-80 years, were assessed for olfactory sensitivity of 10 odorants from various odor groups. Notably, subjects in their 70s required 179 times concentration of rose-like odorant (2-phenylethanol) than subjects in the 20s, while thresholds for onion-like 2-methyloxolane-3-thiol only differed by 3 times between the age groups. In addition, identification rate for 2-phenylethanol was negatively correlated with age throughout adult life whereas mushroom-like oct-1-en-3-ol was equally identified by subjects across all ages. Our results demonstrated the girth of differentiated olfactory loss due to normal ageing, which potentially affect overall perception and preferences of odor mixtures with age.

High-intensity ultrasound production of Maillard reaction flavor compounds in a cysteine-xylose model system.

Application of high intensity ultrasound has shown potential in the production of Maillard reaction odor-active flavor compounds in model systems. The impact of initial pH, sonication duration, and ultrasound intensity on the production of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) by ultrasound processing in a cysteine-xylose model system were evaluated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a modified mathematical model. Generation of selected MRPs, 2-methylthiophene and tetramethyl pyrazine, was optimal at an initial pH of 6.00, accompanied with 78.1 min of processing at an ultrasound intensity of 19.8 W cm(-2). However, identification of volatiles using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed that ultrasound-assisted Maillard reactions generated fewer sulfur-containing volatile flavor compounds as compared to conventional heat treatment of the model system. Likely reasons for this difference in flavor profile include the expulsion of H2S due to ultrasonic degassing and inefficient transmission of ultrasonic energy.

Plant essential oils as active antimicrobial agents.

Essential oils derived from plants have been recognized for decades to exhibit biological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial attributes. Antimicrobial activities of these natural plant materials have been intensively explored in recent years, mainly in response to the overwhelming concern of consumers over the safety of synthetic food additives. Gram-negative organisms are believed to be slightly less sensitive to essential oils than Gram-positive bacteria. Generally, a higher concentration is required to obtain the same efficacy in foods than in synthetic media. The combinations of different types of essential oils or with other food additives have been found to potentially exhibit synergistic if not additive effects. This suggests a cost-efficient and wholesome alternative to both food industry and consumers, at the same time adhering to the hurdle technology in inhibiting proliferation of foodborne pathogens. This review aims to examine the conventional methods commonly used for assessment of antimicrobial activities of essential oils and phytochemicals, the use of these substances as antimicrobials in food products, factors that affect their efficacy, synergism between components or with available food preservatives as well as the challenges and future directions of using essential oils and phytochemicals as natural food preservatives.

Volatile sulphur compounds and pathways of L-methionine catabolism in Williopsis yeasts.

Volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) are important to the food industry due to their high potency and presence in many foods. This study assessed for the first time VSC production and pathways of L: -methionine catabolism in yeasts from the genus Williopsis with a view to understanding VSC formation and their potential flavour impact. Five strains of Williopsis saturnus (var. saturnus, var. subsufficiens, var. suavolens, var. sargentensis and var. mrakii) were screened for VSC production in a synthetic medium supplemented with L: -methionine. A diverse range of VSCs were produced including dimethyl disulphide, dimethyl trisulphide, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanal (methional), 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol (methionol), 3-(methylthio)-1-propene, 3-(methylthio)-1-propyl acetate, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanoic acid (methionic acid) and ethyl 3-(methylthio)-1-propanoate, though the production of these VSCs varied between yeast strains. W. saturnus var. saturnus NCYC22 was selected for further studies due to its relatively high VSC production. VSC production was characterised step-wise with yeast strain NCYC22 in coconut cream at different L: -methionine concentrations (0.00-0.20%) and under various inorganic sulphate (0.00-0.20%) and nitrogen (ammonia) supplementation (0.00-0.20%), respectively. Optimal VSC production was obtained with 0.1% of L: -methionine, while supplementation of sulphate had no significant effect. Nitrogen supplementation showed a dramatic inhibitory effect on VSC production. Based on the production of VSCs, the study suggests that the Ehrlich pathway of L: -methionine catabolism is operative in W. saturnus yeasts and can be manipulated by adjusting certain nutrient parameters to control VSC production.

Production of flavour-active methionol from methionine metabolism by yeasts in coconut cream.

Yeasts Candida kefyr NCYC143, Candida utilis CUM, Kluyveromyces lactis KL71, Saccharomyces bayanus SB1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC1118, Saccharomyces chevalieri CCICC1028, Candida famata (previously Torulopsis candida) CCICC1041 and Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus CBS254 were screened for their ability to produce flavour-active methionol (3-methylthio-1-propanol) in coconut cream supplemented with l-methionine. The yeasts varied with their ability to produce methionol from methionine with Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC1118 producing the most, followed by Kluyveromyces lactis KL71. Little methionol was produced by the other yeasts. Methionol production by Kluyveromyces lactis KL71 was subjected to further studies under different conditions of initial pH (4.0-6.3), temperature (20-33 °C), l-methionine concentration (0.05-0.25%) and yeast extract concentration (0-0.50%); optimal conditions were established at pH 5.0, 33.0 °C, 0.15% l-methionine and 0.05% yeast extract. CharmAnalysis™ using SPME-GC-MS was conducted on the coconut cream ferment; methional (3-methylthio-1-propanal), methionol and 2-phenylethyl acetate were found to be the most potent aroma-active compounds. The product of coconut cream fermentation by Kluyveromyces lactis KL71 may be considered as a novel, plant-based, natural and complex flavoring bioingredient in food applications.