Synthesis and sensory characterization of novel umami-tasting glutamate glycoconjugates

Integrated virtual screening coupled with sensory evaluation identifies N-succinyl-L-tryptophan as a novel compound with multiple taste enhancement properties

N-Succinyl amino acids (N-Suc-AAs) are garnering attention for their potential as taste-active compounds. The intricate variety of N-Suc-AAs presented considerable challenges in identifying those with taste-active properties. Consequently, we employed structure-based virtual screening to pinpoint taste-active N-Suc-AAs, revealing N-succinyl-L-tryptophan (ST) as a compound with high affinity for different taste receptors. Following this discovery, ST was synthesized through an enzymatic process, achieving a yield of 40.2%, with its structure verified via NMR spectroscopy. Sensory evaluation alongside electronic tongue assessments indicated that ST at a concentration of 1 mg/L significantly enhances umami, kokumi, and saltiness intensities, while concurrently mitigating bitterness from various bitter compounds, whilst itself remaining tasteless. Additionally, time-intensity (TI) results elucidated a marked augmentation in umami duration and a notable diminution in bitterness duration for solutions imbued with 1 mg/L ST. Molecular docking study suggested ST interacted with diverse taste receptors as an agonist or antagonist, primarily through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This study marked the inaugural report on the enzymatic synthesis of ST and its efficacy in improving taste characteristics, underscoring the importance of ST in improving sensory qualities of food products and fostering innovation within the seasoning industry.

Investigation of the multiple taste enhancement properties of N-succinyl-amino acids and their relationship to chemical structure using dynamic sensory techniques

The present study aimed to explore the similarity and difference in taste enhancement properties of N-succinyl-L-phenylalanine (N-Suc-Phe), N-succinyl-L-tryptophan (N-Suc-Trp), and N-succinyl-L-tyrosine (N-Suc-Tyr) using temporal dominance of sensations (TDS), temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA), and time-intensity (TI) techniques. Meanwhile, leading taste enhancers in the market, such as N'-[(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-N-(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl) oxamide (DE) was chosen to conduct a comparative analysis with the aforementioned three compounds. Findings from TDS and TCATA revealed that all compounds under investigation notably enhanced umami and saltiness while reducing bitterness in a concentration-dependent fashion (0.25-1 mg/L). Additionally, the TI results indicated that the duration of umami was extended by 50-75%, and the duration of bitterness was decreased by 20-40% upon addition of DE, N-Suc-Phe, N-Suc-Trp, and N-Suc-Tyr (1 mg/L). Among these, N-Suc-Trp was identified as the most effective in augmenting umami and mitigating bitterness, whereas N-Suc-Tyr excelled in enhancing saltiness intensity. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) pinpointed the carbon‑carbon double bond as the important structure influencing the enhancement of umami and reduction of bitterness, whereas the phenolic hydroxyl group was identified as critical for enhancing saltiness. This investigation provided insights into the different characteristics of taste enhancement of N-Suc-AAs and the impact of chemical structure on such specificity.

Isolation and Identification of Novel Taste-Modulating N2-Guanosine 5'-Monophosphate Derivatives Generated by Maillard-Type Reactions

Several compounds with taste-modulating properties have been investigated, improving the taste impression without having a pronounced intrinsic taste. The best-known representatives of umami taste-modulating compounds are ribonucleotides and their derivatives. Especially the thio derivatives showed high taste-modulating potential in structure-activity relationship investigations. Therefore, this study focuses on the formation of guanosine 5'-monophosphate derivatives consisting of Maillard-type generated compounds like the aroma-active thiols (2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 3-mercapto-2-pentanone, 2-furfurylthiol) and formaldehyde to gain insights into the potential of combinations of taste and aroma-active compounds. One literature-known (N2-(furfurylthiomethyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphate) and three new derivatives (N2-(2-methyl-1-furylthiomethyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphate, N2-((5-hydroxymethyl)-2-methyl-1-furylthiomethyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphate, N2-((2-pentanon-1-yl)thiomethyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphate) were successfully produced using green natural deep eutectic solvents and isolated, and their structures were completely elucidated. Besides the intrinsic taste properties, the kokumi and umami taste-modulating effects of the four derivatives were evaluated via psychophysical investigations, ranging from 19 to 22 μmol/L.

Asparagine-Glucose Amadori Compounds: Formation, Characterization, and Analysis in Dry Jujube Fruit

Amadori rearrangement products of asparagine with glucose (Asn-Glc-ARP) were first prepared through Maillard model reactions and identified via liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. With the study on the effect of the reaction temperature, pH values, and reaction time, the ideal reaction condition for accumulation of Asn-Glc-ARP was determined at 100 °C for 40 min under pH 7. Asparagine (Asn) was prone to degrade from Asn-Glc-ARP in alkaline pH values within a lower temperature range, while in an acidic environment with high temperatures, deamidation of Asn-Glc-ARP to Asp-Glc-ARP (Amadori rearrangement products of aspartic acid with glucose) was displayed as the dominant pathway. The deamidation reaction on the side chain of the amide group took place at Asn-Glc-ARP and transferred it into the hydroxyl group, forming Asp-Glc-ARP at the end. Considering that lyophilization as pretreatment led to limited water activity, a single aspartic acid was not deamidated from Asn directly nor did it degrade from Asp-Glc-ARP even at 120 °C. The degradation of Asn-Glc-ARP through tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis showed the obvious fragment ion at m/z 211, indicating that the stable oxonium ion formed during fragmentation. The structure of Asn-Glc-ARP was proposed as 1-deoxy-1-l-asparagino-d-fructose after separation and purification. Also, the content of Asn-Glc-ARP within dry jujube fruit (HeTianYuZao) was quantitated as high as 8.1 ± 0.5 mg/g.

Preparation of red jujube powder with high content of Amadori compounds and higher antioxidant activity by controlling the Maillard reaction

Amadori compounds (ACs) are stable compounds produced in the early stage of the Maillard reaction (MR) with health benefits such as immunomodulatory, antithrombosis, and tumor-preventive effects. Jujube is a medicinal and edible fruit in China. It is rich in free amino acids and reducing sugar, but traditionally, little attention was paid to the formation of ACs when jujube was processed, neither the influence of ACs on health effects. In this paper, we aimed to increase ACs through controlling the MR during different heating processes of jujube powder with adjusted water content and find the most effective AC that contributed to the antioxidant effects of jujube powder. The optimal dry-heating conditions to produce ACs were as follows: The water activity was 0.294, the heating temperature was 90°C, and the time was 120 min. After processing, the ACs content of jujube powder was 18.55 ± 0.19 mg/g dry weight (DW), which was more than 100 times of those in the unheated jujube powder (0.153 ± 0.003 mg/g DW). Besides, the antioxidant activity of jujube powder after dry-heating process was higher than that of unheated one. As the most abundant AC in the dry-heated jujube powder (12.90 ± 0.75 mg/g DW), N-(1-deoxy-d-fructose-1-yl) proline (Fru-Pro) showed the highest antioxidant activity (62% of equivalent l-ascorbic acid) among 12 ACs in ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. This result provided a method to produce jujube product with high content of ACs and confirmed the positive contribution of Fru-Pro to the antioxidant activity of the jujube powder.

Identification of compounds contributing to umami taste of pea protein isolate

The umami taste of pea protein ingredients can be desirable or undesirable based on the food application. The compounds contributing to the umami perception of pea protein isolate (PPI) were investigated. Sensory-guided prep-liquid chromatography fractionation of a 10% aqueous PPI solution revealed one well-known compound, monosodium glutamate (MSG), however, it was reported at a subthreshold concentration. Two umami enhancing compounds 5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and 5'-uridine monophosphate (UMP) were subsequently identified after the LC fractions were re-evaluated with MSG. Sensory recombination studies, utilizing the aqueous PPI solution as the base, confirmed AMP and UMP were umami enhancers of MSG and contributed approximately 81% of the perceived umami intensity. However UMP was only reported to enhance umami perception in combination with AMP (not individually) indicating synergistic interactions were observed between the two enhancer compounds. Therefore the presence of all three compounds are important for umami perception and provide an improved basis to tailor the flavor profile in PPI products.

Efficient Formation of N-(1-Deoxy-d-ribulos-1-yl)-Glutathione via Limited Oxidation and Degradation of Glutathione during the Atmospheric-Vacuum Thermal Reaction

The efficient preparation of the ribose-glutathione (Rib-GSH) Amadori rearrangement product (RG-ARP) as a potent precursor of meaty flavor was studied through the atmospheric-vacuum thermal reaction. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed that the oxidation and degradation of GSH occurred during the preparation of RG-ARP via the atmospheric thermal reaction, especially at a low molar ratio of Rib to GSH and high reaction temperature. The RG-ARP and the ARPs derived from the products of GSH oxidation and degradation with the participation of Rib were identified by MS/MS as N-(1-deoxy-d-ribulos-1-yl)-glutathione, N-(1-deoxy-d-ribulos-1-yl)-cysteinylglycine, and N-(1-deoxy-d-ribulos-1-yl)-glutathione disulfide. The selective formation of RG-ARP was disrupted due to the multiple consumption pathways of GSH and Rib. The removal of water and the reduction of oxygen content during vacuum dehydration exhibited an obvious inhibitory effect on the oxidation of cysteinyl and the cleavage of glutamyl, limiting the oxidation and degradation of GSH. Meanwhile, the rapid evaporation of water promoted the molecular collision between the reactants, which allowed the glycation reaction of GSH to be advanced and fragmentation of RG-ARP to be inhibited at a mild dehydration temperature. Accordingly, the atmospheric-vacuum thermal reaction was proposed to limit the generation of secondary byproducts and enhance the yield of RG-ARP, enabling the RG-ARP yield to reach 49.23% at 80 °C and a molar ratio of 2:1 (Rib/GSH) for 20 min.

Application of electronic tongue in umami detection and soy sauce refining process

The article systematically investigated the response behaviors of lipid-film equipped umami taste sensor to various umami compounds, including typical umami substances (umami amino acids, GMP, IMP, disodium succinate) and novel umami chemicals (umami peptide and Amadori rearrangement product of umami amino acid). The umami taste sensor has great specificity to all umami substances. Relationships between output values and concentrations of umami substances in certain ranges were consistent with Weber-Fechner law. The umami synergistic effect detected by the sensor was in great agreement with human sensory results as well, fitting logarithm model. Moreover, the taste profile mixing model of raw soy sauce was established using five different taste sensors and principal component analysis, realizing the simplification of soy sauce blending and acceleration of the soy sauce refining process. Thus, flexible design of the experimental procedure and multi-analysis of the sensor data is essential.

Six categories of amino acid derivatives with potential taste contributions: a review of studies on soy sauce

During the fermentation of soy sauce, the metabolism of microorganisms and the Maillard reaction produce a wide variety of metabolites that contribute to the unique and rich flavor characteristics of soy sauce, such as amino acids, organic acids and peptides. Amino acid derivatives, a relatively new taste compounds, formed by the reaction of enzymes or non-enzymes from sugars, amino acids, and organic acids released through metabolism by microorganisms during soy sauce fermentation, have begun to gain more and more attention in recent years. This review focused on our existing knowledge of the sources, taste characteristics and synthesis methods of the 6 categories of amino acid derivatives, including Amadori compounds, γ-glutamyl peptides, pyroglutamyl amino acids, N-lactoyl amino acids, N-acetyl amino acids and N-succinyl amino acids. Sixty-four amino acid derivatives were detected in soy sauce, of which 47 were confirmed to have potential contribution to the taste of soy sauce, especially umami and kokumi, and some of them also have the effect of reducing bitterness. Furthermore, some amino acid derivatives, like γ-glutamyl peptides and N-lactoyl amino acids, were found to be synthesized enzymatically in vitro, which laid the foundation for further study on their formation pathways in the future.

Food polyphenols and Maillard reaction: regulation effect and chemical mechanism

Maillard reaction is a non-enzymatic thermal reaction during food processing and storage. It massively contributes to the flavor, color, health benefits and safety of foods and could be briefly segmented into initial, intermediate and final stages with the development of a cascade of chemical reactions. During thermal reaction of food ingredients, sugar, protein and amino acids are usually the main substrates, and polyphenols co-existed in food could also participate in the Maillard reaction as a modulator. Polyphenols including flavan-3-ols, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, and tannins have shown various effects throughout the process of Maillard reaction, including conjugating amino acids/sugars, trapping α-dicarbonyls, capturing Amadori rearrangement products (ARPs), as well as decreasing acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) levels. These effects significantly influenced the flavor, taste and color of processed foods, and also decreased the hazard products' level. The chemical mechanism of polyphenols-Maillard products involved the scavenging of radicals, as well as nucleophilic addition and substitution reactions. In the present review, we concluded and discussed the interaction of polyphenols and Maillard reaction, and proposed some perspectives for future studies.

Preparation, Sensory Characterization, and Umami-Enhancing Mechanism of Novel Peptide Glycoconjugates

Previous studies supposed that Amadori rearrangement products (ARPs) of peptides might have better umami-enhancing abilities. To confirm this, five ARPs (EP-ARP, AH-ARP, EE-ARP, β-AH-ARP, RFPHADF-ARP) were synthesized using a food-grade preparation method, and their chemical structures were clearly demonstrated by mass spectrometry and 1D/2D NMR. Sensory experiments showed that ARPs had better umami-enhancing abilities than the corresponding peptides in this research, though their enhancing performance varied. ARPs showed a synergistic effect with multiple umami substances (MSG and GMP), while their corresponding peptides did not. RFPHADF-ARP had good umami-enhancing capacity, despite that RFPHADF was a bitter peptide without any umami/umami-enhancing property. RFPHADF-ARP could bind to the T1R3, which is beneficial to the stability of the active conformation of the umami receptor. The introduction of glucose via the Maillard reaction increased the binding force of RFPHADF with the umami receptor by influencing the electron density distribution and offering more binding groups (hydroxide group).

Recent Advances for the Developing of Instant Flavor Peanut Powder: Generation and Challenges

Instant flavor peanut powder is a nutritional additive that can be added to foods to impart nutritional value and functional properties. Sensory acceptability is the premise of its development. Flavor is the most critical factor in sensory evaluation. The heat treatment involved in peanut processing is the main way to produce flavor substances and involves chemical reactions: Maillard reaction, caramelization reaction, and lipid oxidation reaction. Peanut is rich in protein, fat, amino acids, fatty acids, and unsaturated fatty acids, which participate in these reactions as volatile precursors. N-heterocyclic compounds, such as the pyrazine, are considered to be the key odorants of the “baking aroma”. However, heat treatment also affects the functional properties of peanut protein (especially solubility) and changes the nutritional value of the final product. In contrast, functional properties affect the behavior of proteins during processing and storage. Peanut protein modification is the current research hotspot in the field of deep processing of plant protein, which is an effective method to solve the protein denaturation caused by heat treatment. The review briefly describes the characterization and mechanism of peanut flavor during heat treatment combined with solubilization modification technology, proposing the possibility of using peanut meal as material to produce IFPP.

Sodium Reduction in Bouillon: Targeting a Food Staple to Reduce Hypertension in Sub-saharan Africa

Bouillon cubes are a staple ingredient used in Sub-saharan African countries providing flavor enhancement to savory foods. Bouillon has been identified as a vehicle for fortification to overcome micronutrient deficiencies in Sub-saharan Africa. However, bouillon has a high sodium content (and in addition with other foods) contributes to dietary sodium intake above recommended guidelines. High dietary sodium intake is a key risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Africa has the highest rates of hypertension and CVD globally with nearly half the adult population above 25 years affected. This review presents current state of research on sodium reduction strategies in bouillon. The key challenge is to reduce sodium levels while maintaining optimal flavor at the lowest possible production cost to ensure bouillon continues to be affordable in Sub-saharan Africa. To produce lower sodium bouillon with acceptable flavor at low cost will likely involve multiple sodium reduction strategies; direct reduction in sodium, sodium replacement and saltiness boosting flavor technologies. Efforts to reduce the sodium content of bouillon in Sub-saharan Africa is a worthwhile strategy to: (i) lower the overall sodium consumption across the population, and (ii) deliver population-wide health benefits in a region with high rates of hypertension and CVD.

Key Aspects of Amadori Rearrangement Products as Future Food Additives

Flavor is one of the most important factors in attracting consumers and maximizing food quality, and the Maillard reaction (MR) is highly-involved in flavor formation. However, Maillard reaction products have a big drawback in their relatively low stability in thermal treatment and storage. Amadori rearrangement products (ARPs), MR intermediates, can alternatively act as potential flavor additives for their better stability and fresh flavor formation ability. This review aims to elucidate key aspects of ARPs’ future application as flavorings. The development of current analytical technologies enables the precise characterization of ARPs, while advanced preparation methods such as synthesis, separation and drying processes can increase the yield of ARPs to up to 95%. The stability of ARPs is influenced by their chemical nature, pH value, temperature, water activity and food matrix. ARPs are associated with umami and kokumi taste enhancing effects, and the flavor formation is related to amino acids/peptides of the ARPs. Peptide-ARPs can generate peptide-specific flavors, such as: 1,6-dimethy-2(1H)-pyrazinone, 1,5-dimethy-2(1H)-pyrazinone, and 1,5,6-trimethy-2(1H)-pyrazinone. However, further research on systematic stability and toxicology are needed.

Characterization of γ-glutamyl cysteine ligases from Limosilactobacillus reuteri producing kokumi-active γ-glutamyl dipeptides

γ-Glutamyl cysteine ligases (Gcls) catalyze the first step of glutathione synthesis in prokaryotes and many eukaryotes. This study aimed to determine the biochemical properties of three different Gcls from strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri that accumulate γ-glutamyl dipeptides. Gcl1, Gcl2, and Gcl3 were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Gcl1, Gcl2, and Gcl2 exhibited biochemical with respect to the requirement for metal ions, the optimum pH and temperature of activity, and the kinetic constants for the substrates cysteine and glutamate. The substrate specificities of the three Gcls to 14 amino acids were assessed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. All three Gcls converted ala, met, glu, and gln into the corresponding γ-glutamyl dipeptides. None of the three were active with val, asp, and his. Gcl1 and Gcl3 but not Gcl2 formed γ-glu-leu, γ-glu-ile, and γ-glu-phe; Gcl3 exhibited stronger activity with gly, pro, and asp when compared to Gcl2. Phylogenetic analysis of Gcl and the Gcl-domain of GshAB in lactobacilli demonstrated that most of Gcls were present in heterofermentative lactobacilli, while GshAB was identified predominantly in homofermentative lactobacilli. This distribution suggests a different ecological role of the enzyme in homofermentative and heterofermentative lactobacilli. In conclusion, three Gcls exhibited similar biochemical properties but differed with respect to their substrate specificity and thus the synthesis of kokumi-active γ-glutamyl dipeptides. KEY POINTS: • Strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri encode for up to 3 glutamyl cysteine ligases. • Gcl1, Gcl2, and Gcl3 of Lm. reuteri differ in their substrate specificity. • Gcl1 and Gcl3 produce kokumi-active dipeptides.

Mechanistic Insight into the Origin of Stereoselectivity in the Ribose-Mediated Strecker Synthesis of Alanine

Enantioenriched amino acids are produced in a hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic aminonitriles mediated by chiral pentose sugars. Experimental kinetic and spectroscopic results combined with DFT computational studies and microkinetic modeling help to identify the nature of the intermediate species and provide insight into the stereoselectivity of their hydrolysis in the prebiotically relevant ribose-alanine system. These studies support a synergistic role for sugars and amino acids in the emergence of homochirality in biological molecules.

Proline-glucose Amadori compounds: Aqueous preparation, characterization and saltiness enhancement

Amadori rearrangement product (ARP) derived from proline and glucose was prepared in aqueous medium, and purified by ion exchange chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. The ARP was confirmed as 1-deoxy-1-L-proline-D-fructose (C₁₁H₁₉O₇N, 277 Da) with four main isomers. A preliminary vacuum dehydration coupled with subsequent spray drying was used to improve the yield of ARP conversion from 3.63% to 69.15%. Furthermore, the taste characteristics of spray dried ARP products were analyzed by electronic tongue and sensory evaluation. The results indicated that when the dosage of ARP products was above 0.4%, a 20% salt reduction could be achieved without reduction in the salty taste as well as having a significant enhancement in the umami attribute. The products at low- and medium- extents of reaction could stimulate more secretion of aldosterone in oral cavity and then improve its sensitivity to the salt, while the product at high- extent of reaction inhibits aldosterone secretion.

Glycation of Plant Proteins Via Maillard Reaction: Reaction Chemistry, Technofunctional Properties, and Potential Food Application

Plant proteins are being considered to become the most important protein source of the future, and to do so, they must be able to replace the animal-derived proteins currently in use as techno-functional food ingredients. This poses challenges because plant proteins are oftentimes storage proteins with a high molecular weight and low water solubility. One promising approach to overcome these limitations is the glycation of plant proteins. The covalent bonding between the proteins and different carbohydrates created via the initial stage of the Maillard reaction can improve the techno-functional characteristics of these proteins without the involvement of potentially toxic chemicals. However, compared to studies with animal-derived proteins, glycation studies on plant proteins are currently still underrepresented in literature. This review provides an overview of the existing studies on the glycation of the major groups of plant proteins with different carbohydrates using different preparation methods. Emphasis is put on the reaction conditions used for glycation as well as the modifications to physicochemical properties and techno-functionality. Different applications of these glycated plant proteins in emulsions, foams, films, and encapsulation systems are introduced. Another focus lies on the reaction chemistry of the Maillard reaction and ways to harness it for controlled glycation and to limit the formation of undesired advanced glycation products. Finally, challenges related to the controlled glycation of plant proteins to improve their properties are discussed.

Taste improvement of Maillard reaction intermediates derived from enzymatic hydrolysates of pea protein

Maillard reaction intermediates (MRIs) derived from enzymatic hydrolysates of pea protein, mainly initial Maillard reaction products, were prepared at a low temperature (80 °C) and the reaction time was determined by variable-temperature Maillard reaction. Electronic tongue and sensory evaluation were used to analyze the taste qualities of pea protein hydrolysates and their MRIs. Both evaluations showed that bitterness of enzymatic hydrolysates of pea protein reduced but umami taste increased through Maillard reaction. The intensities of umami and saltiness were positively correlated with the concentration of MRIs. Even when the dosage of MRIs was 0.1% (w/w), MRIs could achieve a 20% reduction in NaCl content without decreasing saltiness, which could be great potential substitutes for salt reduction. On the other hand, the increased MRIs promoted aldosterone secretion in saliva, which might enhance human perception of saltiness.

Vacuum Dehydration: An Excellent Method to Promote the Formation of Amadori Compounds (ACs, N-(1-Deoxy-d-fructos-1-yl)-amino Acid) in Aqueous Models and Tomato Sauce

Amadori compounds (ACs; N-(1-deoxy-d-fructos-1-yl)-amino acid) are superior flavor precursors and potential functional ingredients in food processing. In this study, vacuum dehydration as an excellent and universal method for the formation of ACs in both simulation systems and food processing was revealed. In total, 12 amino acids referring to all six categories were selected to conduct simulated reactions with glucose in aqueous models. At 90 °C, yields of 11 ACs were significantly increased by vacuum dehydration, reaching 4-198 times compared to a heat sealing reaction in aqueous systems, and formation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) and browning were slower than that by a dry powder reaction. In particular, the yields of Fru-Arg, Fru-His, and Fru-Glu reached 87.03, 90.73, and 89.88 mol %, respectively. The order of promotion effect was acid ACs > basic ACs > unique ACs > polar neutral ACs > aliphatic ACs > aromatic ACs. The excellent effect was mainly attributed to the control of water activity (Aw) and pH, which enabled the models to reach the optimal reaction state quickly by adjusting the vacuum degree at mild temperatures. The method was also applied to AC enrichment in tomato sauce processing; the AC content could rise to 30.72 mg/g, which was more than 17 times than those in samples without vacuum dehydration and two commercial tomato sauces.

Optimization of beef broth processing technology and isolation and identification of flavor peptides by consecutive chromatography and LC-QTOF-MS/MS

To investigate the flavor peptides of beef broth obtained under optimized stewing conditions, separation procedures such as ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-15 column chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography were employed to isolate the umami taste peptides. Sensory evaluation was combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect the flavor peptides. The optimization of the stewing process conditions was studied using the orthogonal method, which indicated that time had the most significant effect on the taste efficiency of sensory evaluation, followed by the mixed spices, sucrose, and salt. The optimized cooking conditions included 3.5 hr of cooking time, 1.800 g of sucrose, 2.125 g of salt, and 1.500 g of mixed spices. The results showed that six peptides, including SDEEVEH, AEVPEVH, GVDNPGHP, GSDGSVGPVGP, SDGSVGPVGP, and DEAGPSIVH, were detected in sample X1M1; and seven peptides, including VAPEEHPT, VVSNPVDIL, VGGNVDYK, PFGNTHN, EAGPSIVHR, VDFDDIQK, and DEAGPSIVH, were detected in sample X2M2. This study compared the flavor peptides in stewed beef before and after the optimization, and thus provided a basis for the improvement of beef processing technology.

Maillard Mimetic Food-Grade Synthesis of N-(β-d-Deoxyfructos-1-yl)-l-glutamic Acid and N-(β-d-Deoxyfructos-1-yl)-β-alanyl-l-histidine by a Combination of Lyophilization and Thermal Treatment

A typical glycoconjugate of glutamic acid, namely, N-(β-d-deoxyfructos-1-yl)-l-glutamic acid, was successfully synthesized as the primary isomer in a yield of 96.08% using a food-grade preparation method, and its chemical structure was clearly demonstrated by mass spectrometry and 1D/2D NMR. The reaction kinetics of glucose and glutamic acid were systematically studied to investigate the effect of lyophilization and thermal treatment on the conversion of reactants to their corresponding Amadori rearrangement product (ARP). Interestingly, besides the initial pH value, temperature, and heating time, the initial concentration of glutamic acid also influenced the final yield because intramolecular dehydration occurred at the same time, competing with the Maillard reaction and degrading reaction. Moreover, a similar Amadori compound of carnosine was also prepared in a yield of about 66.38% and the yield could be further improved to 95% after condition optimization. One major isomer of the corresponding ARP of the peptide was confirmed to be N-(β-d-deoxyfructos-1-yl)-β-alanyl-l-histidine by structure characterization, indicating that this is a good method to prepare the N-(β-d-deoxyfructos-1-yl)-amino acid/peptide.

LC-MS/MS for simultaneous detection and quantification of Amadori compounds in tomato products and dry foods and factors affecting the formation and antioxidant activities

In order to establish an efficient detection method to evaluate the formation of Amadori compounds (ACs) in food products and study the potential health effects, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) method using caffeine as internal standard was developed to determine eight ACs. The detection limits ranged from 0.0179 to 0.0887 mg/L for the ACs. The accuracy of the method was tested through measuring recovery of the spiked samples that varied from 81.90 ± 2.98% to 108.74 ± 2.34%. This method was further applied to detect ACs in 10 food products. Results showed that dry fruits and vegetables were rich in ACs, the total content of ACs varied from 1.36 ± 0.26 to 3415.91 ± 147.96 mg/100 g. The total amount of ACs in tomato juice heated under vacuum condition showed significant increment (P < 0.05) in 25 min at 80 °C comparing with that under atmospheric pressure due to the rapid loss of water. Besides, the amino acid content shows positive correlation with the corresponding AC formation in Maillard reaction during food drying. After heated at fixed water activity (Aw) for 4 hr by sous-vide process, the ACs content in tomato powder increased significantly and the antioxidant activity improved as well. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Results of this study provided a valuable tool to evaluate the formation of ACs in complex dry food products, facilitated the quality control of food products. The knowledge obtained will offer useful information to food processors. The synthesized ACs would facilitate further study into the antioxidant activities and potential health effects of specified AC.

N-(1-Deoxy-d-xylulos-1-yl)-glutathione: A Maillard Reaction Intermediate Predominating in Aqueous Glutathione-Xylose Systems by Simultaneous Dehydration-Reaction

The effect of simultaneous dehydration-reaction (SDR) on Amadori rearrangement product (ARP) N-(1-deoxy-d-xylulos-1-yl)-glutathione and its key degradation products, 3-deoxyxylosone (3-DX) and 1-deoxyxylosone (1-DX), were investigated in an aqueous glutathione-xylose (GSH-Xyl) system. The yield of ARP was increased to 67.98% by SDR compared with 8.44% by atmospheric thermal reaction at 80 °C. Reaction kinetics was applied to analyze the mechanism and characteristics of ARP formation and degradation under SDR. ARP formation and degradation rate was highly dependent on temperature, and the latter was more sensitive to temperature. By regulating the reaction conditions of temperature and pH, the ratio of ARP formation rate constant to its degradation rate constant could be controlled to achieve an efficient preparation of ARP from GSH-Xyl Maillard reaction through SDR.

Preparation of N-(1-Deoxy-Α-D-Xylulos-1-Yl)-Glutamic Acid via Aqueous Maillard Reaction Coupled with Vacuum Dehydration and Its Flavor Formation Through Thermal Treatment of Baking Process

Amadori rearrangement product (ARP) derived from glutamic acid (Glu) and xylose (Xyl) was prepared by aqueous Maillard reaction. Subsequently, ion exchange chromatography, MS, and NMR were used for purification and identification, confirming that the molecular formula of ARP was C₁₀ H₁₇ NO₈ , namely N-(1-deoxy-α-D-xylulos-1-yl)-glutamic acid, with a molecular mass of 279 Da. To improve the aqueous yield of ARP, a thermal reaction coupled with vacuum dehydration was used and the yield of ARP was increased from 2.07% to 75.11%. Furthermore, flavor formation capacity of ARP by a thermal treatment simulated to a baking process was compared with Maillard reaction products, Maillard-dehydration reaction products, and Glu-Xyl mixture. The results indicated that a larger amount of volatile flavor compounds and a biscuit-like, burnt aroma was generated rapidly from the mixture of ARP and unreacted Glu-Xyl, which could be a potential flavor enhancer for baked foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Maillard reaction performed in aqueous medium through thermal reaction combined with vacuum dehydration is a novel and practical technology that could be widely used to produce Maillard reaction intermediates (MRIs), such as Amadori or Heyns rearrangement products, which are regarded as significant nonvolatile aroma precursors and have stable physical and chemical properties compared with Maillard reaction products (MRPs). MRI derived from glutamic acid and xylose is a potential substitute of MRPs for flavorings preparation and shows a great capacity to generate fresh flavors in a short time at high temperature, which meets the requirements of baking foods. Therefore, the new developed method could be a promising tool for MRI preparation and application in food and flavoring industries.

Physiological Responses to Basic Tastes for Sensory Evaluation of Chocolate Using Biometric Techniques

Facial expressions are in reaction to basic tastes by the response to receptor stimulation. The objective of this study was to assess the autonomic nervous system responses to basic tastes in chocolates and to identify relationships between conscious and unconscious responses from participants. Panelists (n = 45) tasted five chocolates with either salt, citric acid, sugar, or monosodium glutamate, which generated four distinctive basic tastes plus bitter, using dark chocolate. An integrated camera system, coupled with the Bio-Sensory application, was used to capture infrared thermal images, videos, and sensory responses. Outputs were used to assess skin temperature (ST), facial expressions, and heart rate (HR) as physiological responses. Sensory responses and emotions elicited during the chocolate tasting were evaluated using the application. Results showed that the most liked was sweet chocolate (9.01), while the least liked was salty chocolate (3.61). There were significant differences for overall liking (p < 0.05) but none for HR (p = 0.75) and ST (p = 0.27). Sweet chocolate was inversely associated with angry, and salty chocolate positively associated with sad. Positive emotion-terms were associated with sweet samples and liking in self-reported responses. Findings of this study may be used to assess novel tastes of chocolate in the industry based on conscious and emotional responses more objectively.

Impact of drying techniques, seasonal variation and organic growing on flavor compounds profiles in two Italian tomato varieties

The industrial transformation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) produces processed foods, such as dried tomatoes. In this study two varieties (SaAb and PerBruzzo), grown in three cropping systems (one conventional and two organic ones), were processed by two types of small-scale drying (oven or sun drying), over two years of production. The dried samples were analyzed for their non-volatile and volatile composition, relating the results with sensory analysis. The multivariate analysis performed on collected data allowed a detailed comparison of the effects of processing, year-to year variation and cropping systems. Results indicated that drying methods mainly influenced the composition and flavor profile, also affected by the production year. The cropping system significantly influenced some quality indices, such as the acid and sugar amounts, and the aldehydes, respectively higher and lower in organic samples. The comprehensive PCA analysis allowed discrimination of drying methods and, to a lesser extent, cropping systems.

Analysis of Umami Taste Compounds in a Fermented Corn Sauce by Means of Sensory-Guided Fractionation

Corn sauce, an ingredient obtained from the fermentation of enzymatically hydrolyzed corn starch and used in culinary applications to provide savory taste, was investigated in this study. The links between its sensory properties and taste compounds were assessed using a combination of analytical and sensory approaches. The analyses revealed that glutamic acid, sodium chloride, and acetic acid were the most abundant compounds, but they could not explain entirely the savory taste. The addition of other compounds, found at subthreshold concentrations (alanine, glutamyl peptides, and one Amadori compound), contributed partly to close the sensory gap between the re-engineered sample and the original product. Further chemical breakdown, by a sensory-guided fractionation approach, led to the isolation of two fractions with taste-modulating effects. Analyses by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the fractions contained glutamyl peptides, pyroglutamic acid, glutamic acid, valine, N-formyl-glutamic acid, and N-acetyl-glutamine.

Food-Grade Synthesis of Maillard-Type Taste Enhancers Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES)

The increasing demand for healthier food products, with reduced levels of table salt, sugar, and mono sodium glutamate, reinforce the need for novel taste enhancers prepared by means of food-grade kitchen-type chemistry. Although several taste modulating compounds have been discovered in processed foods, their Maillard-type ex food production is usually not exploited by industrial process reactions as the yields of target compounds typically do not exceed 1–2%. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are reported for the first time to significantly increase the yields of the taste enhancers 1-deoxy-d-fructosyl-N-β-alanyl-l-histidine (49% yield), N-(1-methyl-4-oxoimidazolidin-2-ylidene) aminopropionic acid (54% yield) and N²-(1-carboxyethyl) guanosine 5′-monophosphate (22% yield) at low temperature (80–100 °C) within a maximum reaction time of 2 h. Therefore, NADES open new avenues to a “next-generation culinary chemistry” overcoming the yield limitations of traditional Maillard chemistry approaches and enable a food-grade Maillard-type generation of flavor modulators.

Evaluation of the extent of initial Maillard reaction during cooking some vegetables by direct measurement of the Amadori compounds

BACKGROUND

During vegetable cooking, one of the most notable and common chemical reactions is the Maillard reaction, which occurs as a result of thermal treatment and dehydration. Amadori compound determination provides a very sensitive indicator for early detection of quality changes caused by the Maillard reaction, as well as to retrospectively assess the heat treatment or storage conditions to which the product has been subjected. In this paper, a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the analysis of eight Amadori compounds, and the initial steps of the Maillard reaction during cooking (steaming, frying and baking) bell pepper, red pepper, yellow onion, purple onion, tomato and carrot were also assessed by quantitative determination of these Amadori compounds.

RESULTS

These culinary treatments reduced moisture and increased the total content of Amadori compounds, which was not dependent on the type of vegetable or cooking method. Moreover, the effect of steaming on Amadori compound content and water loss was less than that by baking and frying vegetables. Further studies showed that the combination of high temperature and short time may lead to lower formation of Amadori compounds when baking vegetables.

CONCLUSION

Culinary methods differently affected the extent of initial Maillard reaction when vegetables were made into home-cooked products. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Simultaneous quantification of twenty Amadori products in soy sauce using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using a pentafluorophenylpropyl-bonded silica column was developed to simultaneously quantify twenty Amadori products (APs), including N-(1-Deoxy-d-fructosyl-1-yl)-l-isoleucine (Fru-Ile) and N-(1-Deoxy-d-fructosyl-1-yl)-l-leucine (Fru-Leu), in soy sauce, without the need for an ion-pairing reagent or sample derivatization. The method was applied to six types of soy sauce, to determine the total AP levels and the levels of individual APs. The level of total APs widely varied between the eight samples, from 358mg/L to 24347mg/L. The concentrations of N-ε-(1-deoxy-d-fructosyl-1-yl)-l-lysine (Fru-Lys) and N-(1-deoxy-d-fructosyl-1-yl)-l-pyroglutamic acid (Fru-pGlu) were the highest among the APs and the level of Fru-pGlu was similar to that of Fru-Lys. Furthermore, fermentation periods of up to six months greatly influenced AP levels in soy sauce but the levels remained constant thereafter. Thermal treatment of soy sauce had little effect on AP levels.

Taste-Active Maillard Reaction Products in Roasted Garlic (Allium sativum)

In order to gain first insight into candidate Maillard reaction products formed upon thermal processing of garlic, mixtures of glucose and S-allyl-l-cysteine, the major sulfur-containing amino acid in garlic, were low-moisture heated, and nine major reaction products were isolated. LC-TOF-MS, 1D/2D NMR, and CD spectroscopy led to their identification as acortatarin A (1), pollenopyrroside A (2), epi-acortatarin A (3), xylapyrroside A (4), 5-hydroxymethyl-1-[(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furanyl)methyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carbalde-hyde (5), 3-(allylthio)-2-(2-formyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)propanoic acid (6), (4S)-4-(allylthiomethyl)-3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]oxazine-6-carbaldehyde (7), (2R)-3-(allylthio)-2-[(4R)-4-(allylthiomethyl)-6-formyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrrolo-[1,2-a]pyrazin-2(1H)-yl]propanoic acid (8), and (2R)-3-(allylthio)-2-((4S)-4-(allylthiomethyl)-6-formyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrrolo-[1,2-a]pyrazin-2(1H)-yl)propanoic acid (9). Among the Maillard reaction products identified, compounds 5-9 have not previously been published. The thermal generation of the literature known spiroalkaloids 1-4 is reported for the first time. Sensory analysis revealed a bitter taste with thresholds between 0.5 and 785 μmol/kg for 1-5 and 7-9. Compound 6 did not show any intrinsic taste (water) but exhibited a strong mouthfullness (kokumi) enhancing activity above 186 μmol/kg. LC-MS/MS analysis showed 1-9 to be generated upon pan-frying of garlic with the highest concentration of 793.7 μmol/kg found for 6, thus exceeding its kokumi threshold by a factor of 4 and giving evidence for its potential taste modulation activity in processed garlic preparations.

Human taste and umami receptor responses to chemosensorica generated by Maillard-type N²-alkyl- and N²-arylthiomethylation of guanosine 5'-monophosphates

Structural modification of the exocyclic amino function of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) by Maillard-type reactions with reducing carbohydrates was recently found to increase the umami-enhancing activity of the nucleotide upon S-N(2)-1-carboxyalkylation and S-N(2)-(1-alkylamino)carbonylalkylation, respectively. Since the presence of sulfur atoms in synthetic N(2)-alkylated nucleotides was reported to be beneficial for sensory activity, a versatile Maillard-type modification of 5'-GMP upon reaction with glycine's Strecker aldehyde formaldehyde and organic thiols was performed in the present study. A series of N(2)-(alkylthiomethyl)guanosine and N(2)-(arylthiomethyl)guanosine 5'-monophosphates was generated and the compounds were evaluated to what extent they enhance the umami response to monosodium L-glutamate in vivo by a paired-choice comparison test using trained human volunteers and in vitro by means of cell-based umami taste receptor assay. Associated with a high umami-enhancing activity (β-value 5.1), N(2)-(propylthiomethyl)guanosine 5'-monophosphate could be generated when 5'-GMP reacted with glucose, glycine, and the onion-derived odorant 1-propanethiol, thus opening a valuable avenue to produce high-potency umami-enhancing chemosensorica from food-derived natural products by kitchen-type chemistry.

Metabolic profiling approach to explore compounds related to the umami intensity of soy sauce

A metabolic profiling approach was employed to explore the compounds that affect the intensity of umami taste in soy sauce. Twenty-five kinds of soy sauces were analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS, wherein measurement data for 427 compounds were obtained. The umami taste intensity of each soy sauce sample was also quantitated by sensory evaluation and a projection to latent structure (PLS) regression analysis was conducted using the compounds' measurements and umami taste intensity data. Variable importance for the projection (VIP) value obtained via PLS was used for the estimation of the relevance for umami taste intensity. N-(1-Deoxyfructos-1-yl)glutamic acid (Fru-Glu) had the highest VIP value, and addition of Fru-Glu to soy sauce increased umami taste intensity better than glutamic acid at the same concentration as confirmed by sensory evaluation. This study showed that the combination of metabolic profiling approach and sensory evaluation can be used effectively to determine compounds related to taste.

Development of stable isotope dilution assays for the quantitation of Amadori compounds in foods

During thermal processing of foods, reducing carbohydrates and amino acids may form 1-amino-1-desoxyketoses named Amadori rearrangement products after the Italian chemist Mario Amadori. Although these compounds are transient intermediates of the Maillard reaction, they are often used as suitable markers to measure the extent of a thermal food processing, such as for spray-dried milk or dried fruits. Several methods are already available in the literature for their quantitation, but measurements are often done with external calibration without addressing losses during the workup procedure. To cope with this challenge, stable isotope dilution assays in combination with LC-MS/MS were developed for the glucose-derived Amadori products of the seven amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, and histidine using the respective synthesized [(13)C6]-labeled isotopologues as internal standards. The quantitation of the analytes added to a model matrix showed a very good sensitivity with the lowest limits of detection for the Amadori compound of phenylalanine of 0.1 μg/kg starch and 0.2 μg/kg oil, respectively. Also, the standard deviation measured in, for example, wheat beer was only ±2% for this analyte. Application of the method to several foods showed the highest concentrations of the Amadori product of valine in unroasted cocoa (342 mg/kg) as well as in dried bell pepper (3460 mg/kg). In agreement with literature data, drying of foods led to the formation of Amadori products, whereas they were degraded during roasting of, for example, coffee or cocoa. The study presents for the first time results on concentrations of the Amadori compounds of tyrosine and histidine in foods.