Strecker type degradation of phenylalanine by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in model systems

The reaction of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, an oxidative stress product, with phenylalanine in acetonitrile-water (2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) at 37, 60, and 80 degrees C was investigated to determine whether 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals degrade amino acids, analogously to 4,5-epoxy-2-alkenals, and to compare the reactivities of both hydroxyalkenals and epoxyalkenals for production of Strecker aldehydes. In addition to the formation of N-substituted 2-pentylpyrrole and 2-pentylfuran, the studied hydroxyalkenal also degraded phenylalanine to phenylacetaldehyde with a reaction yield of 17%. The reaction mechanism is suggested to be produced through the corresponding imine, which is then decarboxylated and hydrolyzed. This reaction also produced a conjugated amine, which both may be one of the origins of the produced 2-pentyl-1H-pyrrole and may contribute to the development of browning in these reactions. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal degraded phenylalanine in an analogous extent, which is likely a consequence of the similarity of the degradation mechanisms involved. These results suggest that different lipid oxidation products are able to degrade amino acids; therefore, the Strecker type degradation of amino acids produced by oxidized lipids may be quantitatively significant in foods.     

Strecker degradation of phenylalanine initiated by 2,4-decadienal or methyl 13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoate in model systems

The reaction of 2,4-decadienal and methyl 13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoate with phenylalanine was studied to determine if alkadienals and ketodienes are able to produce the Strecker-type degradation of amino acids to the corresponding Strecker aldehydes. When reactions were carried out at 180 degrees C, both carbonyl compounds degraded phenylalanine to phenylacetaldehyde, among other compounds. The yield of the phenylacetaldehyde produced depended on the reaction pH and increased linearly with both the amount of the lipid and the reaction time. The yield of this conversion was approximately 8% when starting from decadienal and approximately 6% when starting from methyl 13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoate, and the reaction rate was lower for the ketone than for the aldehyde. Simultaneous to these reactions, the lipid was converted into pyrrole, pyridine, or aldehyde derivatives as a result of several competitive reactions. In particular, 9-14% of the decadienal was converted into hexanal under the assayed conditions. All these reactions are suggested to be produced as a consequence of the oxidation of the alkadienal or the ketodiene to the corresponding epoxyalkenal or unsaturated epoxyketone, which were identified in the reaction mixtures by GC-MS. All these results suggest that alkadienals and ketodienes, which are quantitatively important secondary lipid oxidation products, can degrade amino acids to their corresponding Strecker aldehydes. Therefore, under appropriate conditions, these products are not final products of the lipid oxidation and can participate in carbonyl-amine reactions analogously to other lipid oxidation products with two oxygenated functions.     

Strecker-type degradation of phenylalanine by methyl 9,10-epoxy-13-oxo-11-octadecenoate and methyl 12,13-epoxy-9-oxo-11-octadecenoate

The reaction of methyl 9,10-epoxy-13-oxo-11(E)-octadecenoate, methyl 12,13-epoxy-9-oxo-11(E)-octadecenoate, 4,5(E)-epoxy-2(E)-heptenal, and 4,5(E)-epoxy-2(E)-decenal with phenylalanine in acetonitrile-water (2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) at 80 degrees C and at different pHs and carbonyl compound/amino acid ratios was investigated both to determine if epoxyoxoene fatty esters were able to produce the Strecker-type degradation of the amino acid and to study the relative ability of oxidized long-chain fatty esters and short chain aldehydes with identical functional systems to degrade amino acids. The studied epoxyoxoene fatty esters degraded phenylalanine to phenylacetaldehyde. The mechanism of the reaction was analogous to that described for epoxyalkenals and is suggested to be produced through the corresponding imine, which is then decarboxylated and hydrolyzed. This reaction also produced a conjugated hydroxylamine, which was the origin of the long-chain pyridine-containing fatty ester isolated in the reaction and characterized as methyl 8-(6-pentylpyridin-2-yl)octanoate. Epoxyoxoene fatty esters and epoxyalkenals exhibited a similar reactivity for producing phenylacetaldehyde, therefore suggesting that nonvolatile lipid oxidation products, which are produced to a greater extent than volatile products, should be considered for determining the overall contribution of lipids to Strecker degradation of amino acids produced during nonenzymatic browning. In addition, the obtained data confirm that, analogously to carbohydrates, lipid oxidation products are also able to produce the Strecker degradation of amino acids.     

Model studies on the degradation of phenylalanine initiated by lipid hydroperoxides and their secondary and tertiary oxidation products

The reaction of methyl 13-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoate (MeLOOH), methyl 13-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9,11,15-trienoate (MeLnOOH), methyl 13-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoate (MeLOH), methyl 13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoate (MeLCO), methyl 9,10-epoxy-13-hydroxy-11-octadecenoate (MeLEPOH), and methyl 9,10-epoxy-13-oxo-11-octadecenoate (MeLEPCO) with phenylalanine was studied to determine the comparative reactivity of primary, secondary, and tertiary lipid oxidation products in the Strecker degradation of amino acids. All assayed lipids were able to degrade the amino acid to a high extent, although the lipid reactivity decreased slightly in the following order: MeLEPCO > or = MeLCO > MeLEPOH > or = MeLOH > MeLOOH approximately = MeLnOOH. These data confirmed the ability of many lipid oxidation products to degrade amino acids by a Strecker-type mechanism and suggested that, once the lipid oxidation is produced, a significant Strecker degradation of surrounding amino acids should be expected. The contribution of different competitive mechanisms to this degradation is proposed, among which the conversion of the different lipid oxidation products assayed into the most reactive MeLEPCO and the fractionation of long-chain primary and secondary lipid oxidation products into short-chain aldehydes are likely to play a major role.     

Conversion of phenylalanine into styrene by 2,4-decadienal in model systems

2,4-Decadienal was heated under an inert atmosphere and in the presence of phenylalanine to investigate whether this secondary lipid oxidation product is a final product of lipid oxidation or it reacts with the amino acid. The results obtained showed that, in the presence of the alkadienal, the amino acid was degraded to styrene. This reaction was favored in dry systems at pH approximately 6 and in the absence of oxygen. If oxygen was present, the alkadienal was oxidized and the Strecker degradation of the amino acid was produced. The activation energy for the formation of styrene from phenylalanine was 150.4 kJ/mol. The reaction mechanism is suggested to be produced either by an electronic rearrangement of the imine produced between the aldehyde and the amino acid with the formation of styrene, 2-pentylpyridine, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, or by Michael addition of the amino compound to the alkadienal followed by beta-elimination to produce the same compounds. Both reaction schemes were supported on the results obtained by studying both the degradation of phenylethylamine and phenylalanine methyl ester produced by 2,4-decadienal, and the formation of ethylbenzene in decadienal/phenylalanine reaction mixtures heated in the presence of platinum oxide. All these results suggest that, analogously to carbohydrates, certain lipid oxidation products may degrade appropriate amino acids to their corresponding vinylogous derivatives.     

Amine degradation by 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal in model systems

The reactions of 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal with octylamine, benzylamine, and 2-phenylglycine methyl ester were studied to investigate if amines may suffer a Strecker type degradation by epoxyalkenals analogously to amino acids. In addition to other reactions, the studied amines were converted into their corresponding Strecker aldehydes (octanal, benzaldehyde, and methyl 2-oxo-2-phenylacetate, respectively) to an extent that depended on the pH, the temperature, the amount of epoxyalkenal, and the amine involved. Each amine exhibited an optimum pH for the reaction, but the corresponding Strecker aldehydes were produced to a significant extent within a broad pH range. In addition, the temperature mostly influenced the reaction rate, which was increased between 6.5 and 9.5 times when the reaction was carried out at 60 degrees C than when it took place at 37 degrees C. Furthermore, Strecker aldehyde formation was linearly correlated with the amount of the epoxyalkenal present in the reaction mixture. Nevertheless, the reaction yield mostly depended on the amine involved. Thus, octylamine only produced trace amounts of octanal, benzylamine was converted into benzaldehyde with a yield of 4.3%, and 2-phenylglycine methyl ester was converted into methyl 2-oxo-2-phenylacetate with a reaction yield of 49%. All of these results suggest that suitable amines can be degraded by epoxyalkenals to their corresponding Strecker aldehydes to a significant extent.     

Volatile profiles of dry-cured meat products from three different Iberian x Duroc genotypes

Volatile profiles of two Iberian dry-cured products, dry-cured loin and ham, from three different Iberian x Duroc genotypes, was assessed. Three groups of 10 pigs, each (5 males and 5 females) from different genotypes, were studied: GEN1 = male Iberian x female Duroc1; GEN2 = male Duroc1 x female Iberian; and GEN3 = male Duroc2 x female Iberian. The genotype Duroc1 (DU1) corresponded to pigs selected for the production of dry-cured meat products (hams, loins, and shoulders), with a high level of fattening, while the genotype Duroc2 (DU2) corresponded to animals selected for meat production. Genotype slightly affected the volatile profiles of both dry-cured meat products, although dry-cured loin from GEN3 showed higher hexanal content. Dry-cured loin showed a volatile profile very different to that found in dry-cured ham. Volatile compounds of dry-cured meat products were mainly originated by lipid and protein degradation. Most of the volatile detected in both meat products came from lipid oxidation such as acids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. In addition, a high proportion of volatile compounds from the Maillard reaction was found. Branched aldehydes and some sulfur and nitrogen compounds have their origin in the amino acids degradation by the Strecker reaction, while branched alcohols and acids come from the lipid oxidation of branched aldehydes. Dry-cured ham showed a higher number and a higher level of compounds with origin in protein and lipid degradation than dry-cured loin, which agrees with the longer ripening of the hams (24 months) with respect to the loins (4 months). In dry-cured loins, apart from these compounds, seasoning mixture provides high amount of volatiles, such as terpenes (from paprika and oregano) and sulfur compounds (from garlic), which have great importance in the overall aroma of this product.     

Chemical conversion of alpha-amino acids into alpha-keto acids by 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal

The comparative formation of phenylalanine and phenylpyruvic acid in the reaction of 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal with phenylalanine was studied to determine whether epoyalkenals may also degrade amino acids without producing their decarboxylation. Both compounds were produced in the reaction to an extent that depended on the reaction pH, the amount of lipid oxidation product, and the reaction time and temperature. The optimum pH was 3 for producing both carbonyl derivatives, and the amount of both compounds increased linearly with the amount of epoxyalkenal present in the reaction mixture. In addition, phenylpyruvic acid was produced to a higher extent than phenylacetaldehyde at 37 degrees C. However, at 60 degrees C the degradation of phenylpyruvic acid was observed and phenylacetaldehyde was usually found to a higher extent than the alpha-keto acid in the overnight-incubated reaction mixtures. The degradation of phenylpyruvic acid produced benzaldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde. All these results suggest that epoxyalkenals can not only degrade amino acids by a Strecker-type mechanism but convert them into their corresponding alpha-keto acids. This new reaction may be an alternative chemical route for the formation in foods of alpha-keto acids, which can later participate in the generation of important amino acid-derived flavor compounds.     

In-depth mechanistic study on the formation of acrylamide and other vinylogous compounds by the maillard reaction

The formation of acrylamide was studied in low-moisture Maillard model systems (180 degrees C, 5 min) based on asparagine, reducing sugars, Maillard intermediates, and sugar degradation products. We show evidence that certain glycoconjugates play a major role in acrylamide formation. The N-glycosyl of asparagine generated about 2.4 mmol/mol acrylamide, compared to 0.1-0.2 mmol/mol obtained with alpha-dicarbonyls and the Amadori compound of asparagine. 3-Hydroxypropanamide, the Strecker alcohol of asparagine, generated only low amounts of acrylamide ( approximately 0.23 mmol/mol), while hydroxyacetone increased the acrylamide yields to more than 4 mmol/mol, indicating that alpha-hydroxy carbonyls are much more efficient than alpha-dicarbonyls in converting asparagine into acrylamide. The experimental results are consistent with the reaction mechanism based on (i) a Strecker type degradation of the Schiff base leading to azomethine ylides, followed by (ii) a beta-elimination reaction of the decarboxylated Amadori compound to afford acrylamide. The beta-position on both sides of the nitrogen atom is crucial. Rearrangement of the azomethine ylide to the decarboxylated Amadori compound is the key step, which is favored if the carbonyl moiety contains a hydroxyl group in beta-position to the nitrogen atom. The beta-elimination step in the amino acid moiety was demonstrated by reacting under low moisture conditions decarboxylated model Amadori compounds obtained by synthesis. The corresponding vinylogous compounds were only generated if a beta-proton was available, for example, styrene from the decarboxylated Amadori compound of phenylalanine. Therefore, it is suggested that this thermal pathway may be common to other amino acids, resulting under certain conditions in their respective vinylogous reaction products.     

Formation of pyrazines and a novel pyrrole in Maillard model systems of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone and 2-oxopropanal

Alkylpyrazines are a very important class of Maillard flavor compounds, but their mechanism of formation is complex and consists of different pathways. The model reaction of 20 different amino acids with 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, as a precursor of 2-oxopropanal, was studied by means of SPME-GC-MS to investigate the involvement of the amino acid side chain in the substitution pattern of the resulting pyrazines. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine was quantitatively the most important pyrazine formed from all of the amino acids. The amino acid side chain is not involved in its formation. The substituents of other less abundant pyrazines resulted mainly from the incorporation of the Strecker aldehyde or aldol condensation products in the intermediate dihydropyrazine. The importance of different reaction mechanisms was evaluated, taking into account the pattern of pyrazines identified. In the solvent extracts of aqueous model reactions of 2-oxopropanal with amino acids, the main reaction product was not a pyrazine but a novel pyrrole. This pyrrole was identified as 2,5-diacetyl-3-methyl-1 H-pyrrole by means of spectral analysis, secured by chemical synthesis. A reaction mechanism for its formation was proposed and evaluated. The influence of various reaction conditions on the formation of 2,5-diacetyl-3-methyl-1 H-pyrrole and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine in the model reaction of alanine with 2-oxopropanal was studied. These results underscore the importance of the ratio of the different reagents and the presence of water in the resulting flavor formation in the Maillard reaction.     

Model studies on the pattern of volatiles generated in mixtures of amino acids, lipid-oxidation-derived aldehydes, and glucose

The development of flavor and browning in thermally treated foods results mainly from the Maillard reaction and lipid degradation but also from the interactions between both reaction pathways. To study these interactions, we analyzed the volatile compounds resulting from model reactions of lysine or glycine with aldehydes originating from lipid oxidation [hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, or (2E,4E)-decadienal] in the presence and absence of glucose. The main reaction products identified in these model mixtures were carbonyl compounds, resulting essentially from amino-acid-catalyzed aldol condensation reactions. Several 2-alkylfurans were detected as well. Only a few azaheterocyclic compounds were identified, in particular 5-butyl-2-propylpyridine from (E)-2-hexenal model systems and 2-pentylpyridine from (2E,4E)-decadienal model reactions. Although few reaction products were found resulting from the condensation of an amino acid with a lipid-derived aldehyde, the amino acid plays an important role in catalyzing the degradation and further reaction of these carbonyl compounds. These results suggest that amino-acid-induced degradations and further reactions of lipid oxidation products may be of considerable importance in thermally processed foods.     

Influence of lipids in the generation of phenylacetaldehyde in wort-related model systems

The effect of lipids on the formation of the Strecker aldehyde phenylacetaldehyde during wort boiling was studied to determine the role that small changes in the lipid content of the wort have in the production of significant flavor compounds in beer. Wort was treated with 0-2.77 mmol per liter of glucose, linoleic acid, or 2,4-decadienal and heated at 60-98 degrees C for 1 h. After this time, the amount of the Strecker aldehyde phenylacetaldehyde increased in the samples treated with linoleic acid or decadienal but not in the samples treated with glucose. Thus, the amount of phenylacetaldehyde produced in the presence of linoleic acid was 1.1-2.5 times the amount of the Strecker aldehyde produced in the control wort, and this amount increased to 3.6-4.6 times when decadienal was employed. The higher reactivity of decadienal than linoleic acid for this reaction decreased with temperature and was related to the oxidation of linoleic acid that occurred to a higher extent at higher temperatures. The above results suggest that lipids can contribute to the formation of Strecker aldehydes during wort boiling and that changes in the lipid content of the wort will produce significant changes in the formation of Strecker aldehydes in addition to other well-known consequences in beer quality and yeast metabolism. On the other hand, because of the high glucose content in wort, small changes in its content are not expected to affect the amount of Strecker aldehydes produced.     

Sensory and instrumental analyses of volatiles generated during the extrusion cooking of oat flours

Three batches of oats were extruded under four combinations of process temperature (150 or 180 degrees C) and process moisture (14. 5 and 18%). Two of the extrudates were evaluated by a sensory panel, and three were analyzed by GC-MS. Maillard reaction products, such as pyrazines, pyrroles, furans, and sulfur-containing compounds, were found in the most severely processed extrudates (high-temperature, low-moisture). These extrudates were also described by the assessors as having toasted cereal attributes. Lipid degradation products, such as alkanals, 2-alkenals, and 2, 4-alkadienals, were found at much higher levels in the extrudates of the oat flour that had been debranned. It contained lower protein and fiber levels than the others and showed increased lipase activity. Extrudates from these samples also had significantly lower levels of Maillard reaction products that correlated, in the sensory analysis, with terms such as stale oil and oatmeal. Linoleic acid was added to a fourth oat flour to simulate the result of increased lipase activity, and GC-MS analysis showed both an increase in lipid degradation products and a decrease in Maillard reaction products.     

Antioxidant properties of kilned and roasted malts

Compounds possessing antioxidant activity play a crucial role in delaying or preventing lipid oxidation in foods and beverages during processing and storage. Such reactions lead to loss of product quality, especially as a consequence of off-flavor formation. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of kilned (standard) and roasted (speciality) malts in relation to phenolic compounds, sugars, amino acids, and color [assessed as European Brewing Convention units (degrees EBC) and absorbance at 420 nm]. The concentrations of sugars and amino acids decreased with the intensity of the applied heat treatment, and this was attributed to the extent of the Maillard reaction, as well as sugar caramelization, in the highly roasted malts. Proline, followed by glutamine, was the most abundant free amino/imino acid in the malt samples, except those that were highly roasted, and maltose was the most abundant sugar in all malts. Levels of total phenolic compounds decreased with heat treatment. Catechin and ferulic acid were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the majority of the malts, and amounts were highest in the kilned samples. In highly roasted malts, degradation products of ferulic acid were identified. Antioxidant activity increased with the intensity of heating, in parallel with color formation, and was significantly higher for roasted malts compared to kilned malts. In kilned malts, phenolic compounds were the main identified contributors to antioxidant activity, with Maillard reaction products also playing a role. In roasted malts, Maillard reaction products were responsible for the majority of the antioxidant activity.     

Chemical conversion of phenylethylamine into phenylacetaldehyde by carbonyl-amine reactions in model systems

The chemical conversion of phenylethylamine into phenylacetaldehyde in the presence of lipid oxidation products (LOPs) was studied to investigate the possibility that biogenic amines can be converted into Strecker aldehydes upon processing. Model systems of phenylethylamine and methyl 13-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoate (HP), 2,4-decadienal (DD), 4,5-epoxy-2-heptenal (EH), 4,5-epoxy-2-decenal (ED), 4-oxo-2-hexenal (OH), 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ON), or 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HN) were heated for 1 h at 180 °C and pH 3. Although HN and EH did not produce more phenylacetaldehyde than when phenylethylamine was heated alone, all other lipid oxidation products assayed increased the amount of phenylacetaldehyde produced by 300-900%, with ON being the most reactive compound for this reaction. The reaction was mainly produced at acidic pH values (<6) and was dependent upon the concentration of the LOPs involved, and the phenylacetaldehyde produced increased linearly as a function of the time and temperature. The E(a) values for the reactions between phenylethylamine and DD and ON were 54.8 and 53.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The reaction is proposed to take place by the formation of an imine between the phenylethylamine and the LOPs, which is later converted into another imine by an electronic rearrangement. This new imine is the origin of phenylacetaldehyde by hydrolysis. These results show a new pathway for Strecker aldehyde formation. This route provides a potential way to reduce biogenic amine content in foods when they can be thermally processed before consumption.     

Formation of volatile compounds during heating of spice paprika (Capsicum annuum) powder

Spice paprika (red pepper; Capsicum annuum) is the most cultivated spice worldwide and is used mainly for its color and pungency. However, current research is also focusing on the flavor as an important parameter. This paper deals with the kinetics of the formation of those volatiles that indicate a decrease in spice paprika quality due to Maillard reaction, hydrolytic reactions, and oxidative degradation reactions of lipids such as fatty acids and carotenoids. Spice paprika volatiles were quantitatively analyzed by means of headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The kinetics of their formation were investigated, and the respective activation energies determined. Strecker aldehyde, acetone, and methanol formation followed a pseudo-zero-order reaction kinetic, and formation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was characterized by a first-order kinetic. The activation energies determined were between 86.3 and 101.8 for the Strecker aldehydes acetaldehyde (AA), 2-methylpropanal (2-MP), 3-methylbutanal (3-MB), and 2-methylbutanal (2-MB), 130.7 for acetone, 114.2 for methanol, and 109.7 kJ/mol for DMS. The amounts of Strecker aldehydes formed were correlated to the concentrations of the corresponding free amino acids present in the samples. The formation of hexanal and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one in Capsicum annuum during processing was confirmed, and the formation of beta-ionone was probably described for the first time. During heating, the concentration of hexanal increased rapidly. The formation of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one confirms that Capsicum annuum fruits contain lycopene.     

Comparative methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate oxidation in the presence of bovine serum albumin at several lipid/protein ratios

The oxidation of methyl linoleate (LMe) and methyl linolenate (LnMe) in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the dark at 60 degrees C was studied to analyze the role of the type of fatty acid and the protein/lipid ratio on the relative progression of the processes involved when lipid oxidation occurs in the presence of proteins. The disappearance of the fatty acid, the formation of primary and secondary products of lipid peroxidation, the loss of amino acid residues, the production of oxidized lipid/amino acid reaction products, and the development of color and fluorescence were studied as a function of incubation time in protein/lipid samples at 10:1, 6:1, and 3:1 w/w ratios. The incubation of LMe and LnMe in the presence of BSA at 60 degrees C rapidly produced lipid peroxidation and protein damage. Although reaction rates were much faster for LnMe than for LMe, both fatty acids had similar behaviors, and LnMe seemed to be only slightly more reactive than LMe for BSA by producing a higher increase of protein pyrroles in the protein and the development of increased browning and fluorescence. The protein/lipid ratio also influenced the relative progress of the reactions implicated. Thus, a lower protein/lipid ratio increased sample oxidation and protein damage. This also produced an increased browning, in accordance with the mechanisms proposed for browning production by oxidized lipid/protein reactions. On the contrary, browning of extracted lipids increased at higher protein/lipid ratios. This opposite tendency allowed evaluation of the overall significance of the different browning processes implicated in the final colors observed, concluding that color changes observed in BSA/lipid samples were mostly a consequence of oxidized lipid/protein reactions.     

Formation of strecker aldehydes from polyphenol-derived quinones and alpha-amino acids in a nonenzymic model system

Fruits and vegetables contain naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds that can undergo enzyme-catalyzed oxidation during food preparation. Many of these compounds contain catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) moieties that may be transformed into o-quinone derivatives by polyphenoloxidases and molecular oxygen. Secondary reactions of the o-quinones include the Strecker degradation of ambient amino acids to form flavor-important volatile aldehydes. The purpose of this work was to investigate the mechanism of the polyphenol/o-quinone/Strecker degradation sequence in a nonenzymic model system. By using ferricyanide ion as the oxidant in pH 7.17 phosphate buffer at 22 degrees C, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, (+) catechin, and (-) epicatechin were caused to react with methionine and phenylalanine to produce Strecker aldehydes methional and phenylacetaldehyde in 0.032-0.42% molar yields (0.7-10 ppm in reaction mixtures). Also, by employing l-proline methyl ester in a reaction with 4-methylcatechol, a key reaction intermediate, 4-(2'-carbomethoxy-1'-pyrrolidinyl)-5-methyl-1,2-benzoquinone (7), was isolated and tentatively identified.     

Progress of the Maillard reaction and antioxidant action of Maillard reaction products in preheated model systems during storage

The progress of the Maillard reaction and the effect of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) on lipid oxidation in preheated model systems containing pregelatinized starch, glucose, lysine, and soybean oil have been studied during storage. The samples, either containing all components or excluding one or more of them, were heated at 100 degrees C for 90 min and then stored for up to 180 days at 25 degrees C. Browning indices and lipid oxidation were measured, and the results showed that, in samples containing oil, the Maillard reaction had a significant rate also at room temperature and confirmed the ability of MRPs to retard peroxide formation. Under the conditions adopted the rate of the Maillard reaction was increased by the presence of the oil and its oxidation products. The antioxidant action of the MRPs was also evaluated using a peroxide scavenging test based on crocin bleaching. The results demonstrated that antioxidant activity developed with increased browning of the samples.     

Comparative study of the composition of melanoidins from glucose and maltose

The composition of melanoidins formed in the reactions of either glucose or maltose with glycine (70 degrees C, pH 5.5, [glucose] = [maltose] = [glycine] = 0.25 M) (MW > 3500) was investigated by microanalysis and the use of (14)C-labeled sugars and amino acid. The most reliable parameter obtained from microanalysis data is the C/N value, as it was calculated with no model assumption. The C/N value (7.6 +/- 0.2 for glucose and 10.5 +/- 0.2 for maltose) does not change with molecular weight (MW > 3500) as the polymers grow in size. A comparison between the radiochemically determined composition and that obtained from microanalysis suggests that the amino ketone, which is one of the products of Strecker degradation reaction, forms part of the of the melanoidin structure, together with the sugar-derived moiety and the Strecker aldehyde. Evidence is presented that glucose is formed at intermediate stages of the maltose-glycine reaction. The melanoidins are the result of the polymerization of glucose and intact, or substantially intact, maltose residues with glycine.