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The imidazoquinoline type (IQ-type) is recognized as the most mutagenic activity in heterocyclic amines currently, and closely associated with a variety of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases of human. The precursors of IQ-type HAs are free amino acids, reducing sugars, and creatine/creatinine, and these precursors can undergo a series of chemical reactions at high temperature, and intermediate products such as free radicals and reactive carbonyl compounds are formed, which are the basis for the formation of IQ-type HAs. The exogenous substances added to the meat products during the thermal processing affected the IQ-type HAs formation to varying degrees. There are three main action mechanisms of the exogenous substances inhibiting IQ-type HAs, including competitive inhibition mechanism of precursors, free radical scavenging mechanisms, and active carbonyl compounds capturing mechanism. This article focuses on the formation process of IQ-type HAs and the inhibitory mechanism of exogenous substances, and clarified the reaction pathway of IQ-type HAs generation, and elaborated the action mechanism of exogenous substances inhibiting the formation of IQ-type HAs in detail. This paper provides theoretical guidance for effectively controlling the IQ-type HAs formation during the thermal processing of meat products.

The high sodium content in meat products poses health risks to consumers and does not align with modern green and healthy living standards. Current strategies for directly reducing the sodium content in meat products are limited by their negative impact on the sensory or quality attributes of the products. In recent years, there has been great interest in applying ultrasound technology to reduce sodium content. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of current mainstream strategies for reducing the sodium content in meat products, as well as the potential mechanisms by which ultrasound-assisted marination improves the quality of low-salt meat products. The main findings indicate that ultrasound, through its cavitation and mechanical effects, facilitates the transition of proteins from stable insoluble aggregates to stable soluble complexes, exposing more hydrophilic groups and, thus, enhancing protein solubility. At the same time, ultrasound promotes a greater number of proteins to participate in the formation of interfacial layers, thereby increasing emulsifying activity. Furthermore, ultrasound treatment promotes the interaction between proteins and water, leading to partial unfolding of protein chains, which allows polar residues to more readily capture water in the gel, thereby improving the water-holding capacity of the gel. These effects will contribute to the formation of high-quality low-salt meat products. However, variations in the frequency, intensity, and duration of ultrasound treatment can lead to differing effects on the quality improvement of low-salt meat products.

To analyze systematically the effects of marinated in eggs on edible quality of different meats during cooking of several traditional Chinese dishes, marinated in whole egg or egg white, and different egg white addition were chosen to analyze the effects on the edible quality of pork patties, beef patties, and lamb patties. The results showed that, at the addition of 10% and marinated for 30 min, when marinated in egg white, the water content of the pork patties and lamb patties were significantly increased (P

In an attempt to positively regulate meat quality at low NaCl concentration, the influence of L-histidine (L-his) introduction on the postmortem phosphorylation of chicken breast muscle protein that had been cured for 16 h at 1% NaCl was investigated at 90 min postmortem in the present study. The 633 different phosphoproteins (﹥1.2-fold) induced by L-his introduction during salting were identified, and a majority of these proteins were involved in glycolysis, calcium signalling pathway and muscle contraction. Myosin, actin, titin, troponin C (TnC), myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) and γ-phosphorylase kinase (γ-PHK) were the main differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that were associated with muscle contraction. An advantageous regulation of phosphoglucomutase-1 phosphorylation, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component was obtained in glycolytic metabolism after treatment with L-his.

The effects of HYP (10, 50, and 250 μM/g protein) on the physicochemical and gel properties of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) at different NaCl concentrations under oxidative stress were explored. The incorporation of HYP significantly reduced carbonyl content and decreased the loss of free amine groups in a dose-dependent manner, regardless of NaCl concentration. In addition, HYP induced a dose-dependent decrement in total sulfhydryl content regardless of NaCl concentration, which might result from the formation of thiol-quinone adducts via Michael addition. The surface hydrophobicity was significantly increased with HYP addition. Nevertheless, compared with samples treated with 50 μM/g HYP, 250 μM/g HYP caused a significant decrease in surface hydrophobicity, which might be due to the increase in the extent of MPs unfolding and the concomitant aggregation of MPs by hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, HYP also showed a dose-dependent increment in the water-holding capacity (WHC) and gel strength of MPs gels, which might be due to more orderly crosslinks via fibrous filaments at 0.2 M NaCl and more regular and lamellar structures with smaller and more homogeneous pores at 0.6 M NaCl. In summary, HYP reduced the oxidation-mediated changes of physicochemical characteristics, preventing the oxidative damage of MPs and reinforcing the ordered crosslinks of MPs–MPs and MPs–HYP during thermal gelation, ultimately resulting in a better gel quality. These results provide a theoretical support for the practical application of HYP as a natural antioxidant in gel-type meat products.

In this study, the influence of Na content in dry-cured beef by partial replacement with KCl, L-lysine, and L-histidine was investigated. Dry-cured beef aged over 57 days, compared to the control groups (100% NaCl), salt-substituted groups (SS, 39.7% of NaCl, 51.3% of KCl and a blend of 7% L-lysine and 2% L-histidine) had a significant impact on the taste thresholds, relative odor activity value (ROAV), electronic nose (E-nose), and sensory evaluation. This study revealed that the salt substitute process modified the sensory profile by intensifying the “aroma” and differentiating the control group from SS group. The results represented salt substitute analysis of dry-cured beef and may be used by food companies and other stakeholders to understand the changes in sensory characteristics of dry-cured beef due to 100% NaCl process. Salt substitute was developed successfully, presenting a good performance.

In this study, the influence of Na content of dry-cured beef by partial replacement with KCl, L-lysine, and L-histidine was investigated during processing. Dry-cured beef aged over 57 days, compared to control groups (100% NaCl), salt substituted groups (SS, 39.7% of NaCl, 51.3% of KCl and a blend of 7% L-lysine and 2% L-histidine); had a significant impact on the proteolysis index and total free amino acids, lower activities, and gene levels of cathepsin B and L, as well as reduced contents of protein carbonyls and thiol group. The present study provides a successful strategy for improvement of the perceived saltiness and inhibition of the bitterness, while exhibiting no significant negative effects on color or textural properties.

The effect of a salt substitute (SS) containing L-lysine (Lys) and L-histidine (His) on secondary structure and gel properties of myosin from grass carp was examined. The results indicated that the α-helix content of myosin treated with SS was 29.00%, 29.03% and 35.93% more than that with NaCl at 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mol/L (P

The high sodium diet is harmful to the human body. In this study, beef was cured with some salt substitutes, namely SS, 39.7% NaCl, 51.3% KCl, 7% L-lysine and 2% L-histidine, in order to reduce the Na content for the final products, and salt substitute effects the physicochemical, lipolytic, and flavor characteristics of dry-cured beef by determining free fatty acids, lipase activity, volatile compounds, and water mobility. The results showed that the lipase activity and unsaturated fatty acids were significantly increased due to the present of L-lysine and L-histidine. In addition, the SS could also enhance the lipoxygenase activity and promoted the lipid oxidation and influenced volatile compounds. The changes of T21 and T22 showed that the water mobility in SS was higher (P < .05) than in the control group. Moreover, the cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine were detected in 57-day dry-cured beef, being below their toxic limits. The present study demonstrated that salt substitute by L-lysine and L-histidine alter the water distribution and mobility, improved the amounts and types of volatile compounds, while had no influence in the quality of product.

The study was carried out to establish a formaldehyde (FA) detection method in smoked meat products with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method. The high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed by using steam distillation as extraction method and then derived by2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). The final optimum conditions of derivatization for UPLC method were determined as follows: DNPH dosage of 0.3 mL, derivatization temperature of 60°C, derivatization time of 60 min, and twice extraction. This method was further applied to determine the content of FA in the smoked meat products from five companies. The internal FA in the smoked meat products ranged from 25.55 mg/kg meat to 49.20 mg/kg meat, and the surface FA was 34.04 mg/kg meat to 165.25 mg/kg meat. Thus, this study establishes a simple, fast, and reliable method for the analysis of FA in smoked meat products.

This study evaluated the effect of substituting of NaCl with varying amounts of a combination of KCl, L-histidine (L-his), and L-lysine (L-lys) on the instrumental characteristics of cooked loin. Fifteen cooked loins were produced by replacing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of NaCl with the salt substitute. Experiments were conducted in triplicate to determine the water-holding capacity (WHC), and T2 relaxation time, and a texture profile analysis (TPA) and color determination test were also performed. T2 relaxation time analysis indicated that substitution affected the distribution of water by increasing the proportion of immobilized water and improving the WHC. results of TPA and color tests showed no adverse effect from using the experimental treatments. Results showed that 50% was the most suitable substitution ratio (actual 30.15% subsitution level of NaCl), for which the Na content was approximately 27% lower than that of the control for cooked loin.

The present study was designed to analyze the formation mechanics of heat-induced myofibrillar gels from rabbit psoas major at 0.6 mol/L KCl (pH 6.5) and 0.2 mol/L KCl (pH 6.0; n = 3). Morphological structure changes were observed using phase-contrast microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gel properties were determined through water-holding capacity (WHC), gel strength and dynamic rheological test. The results revealed that myofibrillar filaments aggregated and formed larger oligomers by side-by-side interactions when heated from 25 to 65°C. In higher ionic strength at higher pH, the filaments formed a more compact homogeneous network structure and the G′ value was much lower with higher WHC and gel strength, suggesting that the myofibril gel properties could be described by ∆G′. Based on the present study, it is suggested that the desired structural and textural attributes of myofibril gel can be manipulated by temperature, ionic strength and pH.

In this study, we investigated the effects of soybean oil, water, and 1, 2, and 3% eggplant powder (EP) as substitutes for pork back fat (a decrease from 30% to 15%) on the proximate composition, water- and fat-binding properties, colour, water distribution, texture, and sensory properties of pork sausages. The replacement of fat with soybean oil in sausages decreased the fat and cholesterol proportions and increased the moisture content, but the water- and fat-binding properties, texture properties, and sensory properties became worse. By adding EP, sausages displayed remarkably better water- and fat-binding properties, texture properties, and sensory properties. Moreover, EP addition significantly accelerated T2 relaxation time, increased the immobilised water content, and decreased the free water content of sausages. Sausages with 2% EP had the highest flavour, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability. This work provides theoretical and data support for the preparation of sausages with EP rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and dietary fibre.

In this work the effects of cooking cycle times of marinating juice and reheating on the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and heterocyclic amines (HAs) in marinated pig hock were investigated. After the 12th cycle, the total content of COPs was 3.3, 2.0, and 2.0 times higher than that after the 1st cycle in the skin, subcutaneous fat, and lean meat, respectively. The total content of HAs was 5.8, 6.0, and 5.6 times higher than that after the 1st cycle in the skin, subcutaneous fat, and lean meat, respectively. Notably, more COPs were present in the lean meat than in the skin and subcutaneous fat, whereas the content of HAs in the skin was the highest. Compared with the unreheated samples, the total content of COPs and HAs in all tissues increased after reheating at 95 °C for 30 min or at 121 °C for 25 min, but no significant difference was found between different reheating conditions.

Free radicals are ubiquitous in roasted foods. In this work, lipid-derived carbon-centered alkyl radical formation was first studied in roasted meat by electron spin resonance (ESR). The influence of antioxidants on the inhibition of free radicals was investigated. The results showed that the high temperature, high heat transfer rate, and high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content resulted in high radical content in roasted meat, while the high water content in meat retarded radical formation. The 0.03% addition of tea polyphenols (TPP) significantly reduced radical formation during roasting (p < 0.05), whereas the 0.03% rosemary extract (RE) had no significant inhibitory effect (p > 0.05). These results suggested that water retention and the addition of TPP would decrease radical generation during the roasting of meat.

Tamarix has been widely used as barbecue skewers to obtain a good taste and a unique flavor of roast lamb in China. Many flavonoids have been identified from Tamarix, which is an important strategy employed to reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in roast meat. Isorhamnetin, hispidulin, and cirsimaritin from Tamarix ramosissima bark extract (TRE) effectively inhibit the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP), the most abundant HAs in foods, both in roast lamb patties and in chemical models. According to the results of the GC-MS analysis, TRE and the three flavonoids significantly reduced the contents of phenylacetaldehyde, an important intermediate involved in PhIP formation at three levels. A subsequent ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis revealed that these flavonoids trapped phenylacetaldehyde by forming interaction adducts. The formation of three postulated adducts, 8-C-(E-phenylethenyl)isorhamnetin, 6-C-(E-phenylethenyl)isorhamnetin and 8-C-(E-phenylethenyl)hispidulin, in the chemical models and roast lamb patties was further confirmed by a TOF-MS/MS analysis. Our results demonstrate that TRE and the corresponding flavonoids trap phenylacetaldehyde to form adducts and thus inhibit PhIP formation, suggesting their great potential beneficial effects on human health.

Here we investigated the lipid-protective effects of Chinese red pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.) leaf (ZML) extract and chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and quercitrin on salted fish during processing. ZML extract and the polyphenols expressed high total antioxidant capacity and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Salted fish with the ZML extract had higher endogenous antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, lower peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) values than that of the control. The negative correlation between the antioxidant enzyme activities and PV, or TBARS values of all samples was observed throughout the entire processing. These results indicated that ZML extract could effectively inhibit lipid oxidation in the salted fish and suggested its potential role in the protection against oxidative stress in processed meat.

Rehabilitation and nursing-care robots have become one of the prevalent methods for assistant treatment of motor disorder patients in the field of medical rehabilitation. Traditional rehabilitation robots are mostly made of rigid materials, which significantly limits their application for medical rehabilitation and nursing-care. Soft robots show great potential in the field of rehabilitation robots because of their inherent compliance and safety when they interact with humans. In this paper, we conduct a systematic summary and discussion on the soft rehabilitation and nursing-care robots. This study reviews typical mechanical structures, modeling methods, and control strategies of soft rehabilitation and nursing-care robots in recent years. We classify soft rehabilitation and nursing-care robots into two categories according to their actuation technology, one is based on tendon-driven actuation and the other is based on soft intelligent material actuation. Finally, we analyze and discuss the future directions and work about soft rehabilitation and nursing-care robots, which can provide useful guidance and help on the development of advanced soft rehabilitation and nursing-care robots.

As a natural potential resource, Tamarix ramosissima has been widely used as barbecue skewers for a good taste and unique flavor. The polyphenolics in the branch bark play a key role in the quality improvement. The purposes of the present work were to explore the polyphenolic composition of T. ramosissima bark extract and assess their potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Hispidulin and cirsimaritin from T. ramosissima bark extract were first identified in the Tamarix genus reported with UPLC-MS analysis. Isorhamnetin (36.91 μg/mg extract), hispidulin (28.79 μg/mg extract) and cirsimaritin (13.35 μg/mg extract) are rich in the bark extract. The extract exhibited promising antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 117.05 μg/mL for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 151.57 μg/mL for hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, as well as excellent reducing power with an EC50 of 93.77 μg/mL. The bark extract showed appreciable antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens. Listeria monocytogenes was the most sensitive microorganism with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 5 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of 10 mg/mL followed by S. castellani and S. aureus among the tested bacteria. The T. ramosissima bark extract showed significantly stronger inhibitory activity against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. Nevertheless, this extract failed to show any activity against tested fungi. Overall, these results suggested that T. ramosissima shows potential in improving food quality due to its highly efficacious antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

The present research investigated the antioxidant effect of rape (Brassica campestris L.) bee pollen (RBP) on salami during processing. Eight flavonoids in RBP ethanol extract were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis, and quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol were the major bioactive compounds. The RBP ethanol extract exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity than 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tertramethylchromancarboxylic acid (trolox) at the same concentration. The salami with 0.05% RBP extract had higher catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities than that of the control throughout the processing time (p < 0.05). Significant decreases in peroxide value (POV) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were obtained in the final salami product with 0.05% RBP ethanol extract or 1% RBP (p < 0.05). These results suggested that RBP could improve oxidative stability and had a good potential as a natural antioxidant for retarding lipid oxidation.

In previous studies, heterocyclic amines (HCAs) have been identified as carcinogenic and a risk factor for human cancer. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify bioactive natural products capable of controlling the formation of HCAs during cooking. For this purpose we have evaluated the effect of Rosa rugosa tea extract (RTE) on the formation of HCAs in ground beef patties fried at 160 °C or 220 °C. RTE is rich in phenolic compounds and capable of inhibiting the formation of free radicals. The pyrido[3,4-b]indole (norharman) and 1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (harman) contents were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in RTE-treated patties at 220 °C. 9H-3-Amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole acetate (Trp-P-2) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole acetate (Trp-P-1) were not detected at 160 °C and were statistically (p < 0.01) reduced at 220 °C compared to the control. RTE remarkably inhibited the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) at 220 °C (p < 0.001) and at 160 °C (p < 0.05). 2-Amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) and 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]-indole (MeAαC) were only detected in the control group at 160 °C but were comparatively (p > 0.05) similar in the control and treated groups at 220 °C. 2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) were not detected in any sample. Total HCAs were positively correlated with cooking loss. In the RTE-treated groups, 75% of the total HCAs were decreased at 160 °C and 46% at 220 °C, suggesting that RTE is effective at both temperatures and can be used during cooking at high temperatures to lessen the amount of HCAs formed.