Antioxidative Mechanisms of Sulfite and Protein-Derived Thiols during Early Stages of Metal Induced Oxidative Reactions in Beer

Effect of dry hopping on the oxidative stability of beer

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used todeterminethe effect of dry hopping on the oxidative stability and antioxidative potential of beer.Commercial beerwasdry-hopped at 5 °C and 20 °Cwith six hop varieties (Polish and American). The rate of radical formation and lag time were found to depend on the variety of hop used. An increase in the lag time and a decrease in the rate of radical formation occurred when dry-hopping was performed at 20 °C for all hop varieties (at 5 °C in some varieties). The lag time had a strong correlation with the TPC (total polyphenols content) in beer. The rate of radical formation was correlated with the iron content of the beer. A decrease in iron concentration was observed after dry-hopping at 20 °C. Overall, the evaluation of free radical formation using ESR is useful for predicting oxidative changes in beer during storage.

Role of Grape-Extractable Polyphenols in the Generation of Strecker Aldehydes and in the Instability of Polyfunctional Mercaptans during Model Wine Oxidation

Polyphenolic fractions from Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Moristel grapes were reconstituted to form model wines of identical pH, ethanol, amino acid, metal, and varietal polyfunctional mercaptan (PFM) contents. Models were subjected to a forced oxidation procedure at 35 °C and to an equivalent treatment under strict anoxia. Polyphenolic profiles significantly determined oxygen consumption rates (5.6-13.6 mg L^-1 day^-1), Strecker aldehyde (SA) accumulation (ratios max/min around 2.5), and levels of PFMs remaining (ratio max/min between 1.93 and 4.53). By contrast, acetaldehyde accumulated in small amounts and homogeneously (11-15 mg L^-1). Tempranillo samples, with highest delphinidin and prodelphinidins and smallest catechin, consume O₂ faster but accumulate less SA and retain smallest amounts of PFMs under anoxic conditions. Overall, SA accumulation may be related to polyphenols, producing stable quinones. The ability to protect PFMs as disulfides may be negatively related to the increase in tannin activity, while pigmented tannins could be related to 4-methyl-4-mercaptopentanone decrease.

Kinetic Models for the Role of Protein Thiols during Oxidation in Beer

Thiol-containing proteins have been suggested to have antioxidative properties in beer. A kinetic model has been setup for the reactivity of thiols during early stages of oxidative degradation of beer. Kinetic analysis based on the proposed reaction mechanism allowed evaluation of the relative reactivity of beer components, such as bitter acids from hops and polyphenols. The rate constants for the reaction of 1-hydroxyethyl radicals, which are generated during radical mediated oxidation of ethanol in beer, with hop bitter acids and thiols were very similar, and the concentration of these compounds in beer is therefore essential for the relative reactivity. For a standard pilsner beer with 35 international bitter units with typical concentrations of thiols and hop bitter acids, thiols were found to react with ca. 9% of 1-hydroxyethyl radicals, while bitter acids from hops accounted for ca. 88% of the reaction with 1-hydroxyethyl radicals. Polyphenols were not found to account for any major part of the reaction with 1-hydroxyethyl radicals due to low reaction rates and low concentrations in pilsner beer compared to the other components. The kinetic model suggests that the concentration of thiols has to be increased in order to contribute with any significant antioxidative protection and that the fate of thiols during oxidation must be considered since some thiol oxidation products may induce further damage.

Investigation of Phenols Activity in Early Stage Oxidation of Edible Oils by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and 19F NMR Spectroscopies Using Novel Lipid Vanadium Complexes As Radical Initiators

A novel dynamic method for the investigation of the phenols activity in early stage oxidation of edible oils based on the formation of α-tocopheryl radicals initiated by oil-soluble vanadium complexes is developed. Two new vanadium complexes in oxidation states V and IV were synthesized by reacting 2,2'-((2-hydroxyoctadecyl)azanediyl)bis(ethan-1-ol) (C18DEA) with [VO(acac)₂] and 1-(bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)octadecan-2-ol (C18DPA) with VOCl₂. Addition of a solution of either complex in edible oils resulted in the formation of α-tocopheryl radical, which was monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The intensity of the α-tocopheryl signal in the EPR spectra was measured versus time. It was found that the profile of the intensity of the α-tocopheryl signal versus time depends on the type of oil, the phenolic content, and the storage time of the oil. The time interval until the occurrence of maximum peak intensity be reached (t_m), the height of the maximum intensity, and the rate of the quenching of the α-tocopheryl radical were used for the investigation of the mechanism of the edible oils oxidation. ¹⁹F NMR of the ¹⁹F labeled phenolic compounds (through trifluoroacetate esters) and radical trap experiments showed that the vanadium complexes in edible oil activate the one electron reduction of dioxygen to superperoxide radical. Superperoxide reacts with the lipids to form alkoperoxyl and alkoxyl lipid radicals, and all these radicals react with the phenols contained in oils.

Relevance of Oxygen for the Formation of Strecker Aldehydes during Beer Production and Storage

Off-flavor in beer is often associated with the appearance of staling aldehydes. In this study, the factors amino acid concentration, carbohydrate concentration, Fe²⁺ concentration, and oxygen concentration were investigated in terms of their effect on the formation of carbonyl compounds during storage using response surface methodology. From all factors tested, only amino acid concentration and oxygen concentration promoted Strecker aldehyde formation during storage, while all other carbonyls measured were unaffected. A mixture of glucose/xylose, representing carbohydrate sources, as well as Fe²⁺ concentration were insignificant factors, though carbohydrate additions exhibited a significant role in the formation of 2-furfural. De novo formation of phenylacetaldehyde from phenylalanine during beer storage was observed using labeling experiments and a linear relationship between Strecker aldehydes formed and total packaged oxygen was identified. Capping beers with oxygen barrier crown corks and addition of 10 mg/L EDTA to beers effectively diminished Strecker aldehyde formation. Oxygen was additionally shown to significantly promote Strecker aldehyde formation during sweet wort production. A pathway for the reactive oxygen species-induced degradation of amino acids yielding Strecker aldehydes was proposed and was further scrutinized in buffered model solutions. The insignificant role of Fe²⁺ in the response surface experiments is discussed.