ABSTRACT
The susceptibility of meat and meat products (MP) to oxidation and microbial deterioration poses a risk to the nutritional quality, safety, and shelf life of the product. This analysis provides a brief overview of how bioactive compounds (BC) impact meat and MP preservation, and how they can be utilized for preservation purposes. The use of BC, particularly plant-based antioxidants, can reduce the rate of auto-oxidation and microbial growth, thereby extending the shelf life of MP. These BC include polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, alkaloids, saponins, and coumarins, which have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Bioactive compounds can act as preservatives and improve the sensory and physicochemical properties of MP when added under appropriate conditions and concentrations. However, the inappropriate extraction, concentration, or addition of BC can also lead to undesired effects. Nonetheless, BC have not been associated with chronic-degenerative diseases and are considered safe for human consumption. MP auto-oxidation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species, biogenic amines, malonaldehyde (MDA), and metmyoglobin oxidation products, which are detrimental to human health. The addition of BC at a concentration ranging from 0.025 to 2.5% (w/w in powdered or v/w in oil or liquid extracts) can act as a preservative, improving color, texture, and shelf life. The combination of BC with other techniques, such as encapsulation and the use of intelligent films, can further extend the shelf life of MP. In the future, it will be necessary to examine the phytochemical profile of plants that have been used in traditional medicine and cooking for generations to determine their feasibility in MP preservation.
ABSTRACT
The influence of nano-emulsified curcumin (NEC) added to the hair sheep milk, prior to cheese-making, on the chemical composition, lipolysis, and proteolysis of manchego-style cheeses were evaluated throughout 80 days of ripening. The addition of NEC to the milk resulted in cheeses with the same moisture content (42.23%), total protein (23.16%), and water activity (0.969) (p > 0.05). However, it increased the fat and ash levels from 26.82% and 3.64% in B 10 ppm to 30.08% and 3.85% in C 10 ppm, respectively, at the end of the ripening (p < 0.05). The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of experimental cheeses increased during ripening, and the fatty acid groups showed significant changes occurred to a greater extent in the first days of ripening (p < 0.05). The lipolysis increased consistently in all cheeses until day 40 of ripening, to decrease at the end, while proteolysis increased during all ripening time in all samples (p < 0.05); the addition of NEC did not alter the primary proteolysis of manchego-style cheeses, but it modified secondary proteolysis and lipolysis (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis was useful for discriminating cheeses according to their chemical composition and classified into four groups according to their ripening time. This research highlights the potential of CNE to fortify dairy foods to enhance their functionality.
