Reaction of Nitrite and Cytochrome c in the Presence or Absence of Ascorbate

Evaluation of induced color changes in chicken breast meat during simulation of pink color defect

The objective of the study was to establish a pink threshold and simulate the pink defect in cooked chicken breast meat with treatment combinations that would induce significant changes in the color of raw and cooked meat. The subjective pink threshold used in judging pink discoloration was established at a* = 3.8. Samples of three color groups (normal, lighter than normal, and darker than normal) of boneless, skinless chicken breast muscles were selected based on instrumental color values. The in situ changes were induced using sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite at two levels: present and not present. Fillets in all treatments were subjected to individual injections, followed by tumbling, cooking, and chilling. Samples were analyzed for color [lightness (L*), red/green axis (a*), yellow/blue axis (b*)] and reflectance spectra. Simulation of the pink defect was achieved in eight of the 16 treatment combinations when sodium nitrite was present and in an additional two treatment combinations when it was absent. Pinking in cooked samples was affected (P < 0.05) by L* of raw meat color. Results confirmed that it was possible to simulate the undesired pinking in cooked chicken white meat when in situ conditions were induced by sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium nitrite. The continuation of the simulation study can aid in developing alternative processing methods to eliminate potential pink defects.

Nitric oxide exchange in nitrosylmyoglobin

The exchange of nitric oxide in nitrosylmyoglobin, the heme pigment of nitrite-cured meat, has been studied using nitrogen-15 labelling in aqueous solution under conditions (pH, concentration of ascorbate and nitrite) similar to those prevailing in meat during the curing process, and has been found to have a half-life of approximately 2 h at 40 degrees C. One nitric oxide molecule is coordinated to the iron(II) centre of a myoglobin molecule and, in weakly acidic aqueous solution under anaerobic conditions, the exchange rate of the bound nitric oxide is proportional to the concentration of nitrosylmyoglobin, nitrite and hydrogen ion. The rate of exchange has a moderate temperature dependence, corresponding to an activation barrier of delta H+- = 47 +/- 3 kJ.mol-1 at 25 degrees C and pH 5.9, a value dramatically lower than that found for the enthalpy of activation for the oxidation of nitrosylmyoglobin by molecular oxygen, delta H+- = 110 kJ.mol-1. The difference in temperature dependence between the exchange and the autoxidation is discussed in relation to the function of nitrosylmyoglobin as antioxidant in cured meat products.