Improvement of the shelf-life status of modified atmosphere packaged camel meat using nisin and olea europaea subsp. laperrinei leaf extract

The impact of combined biopreservation treatment with Olea europaea subsp. laperrinei leave extracts (laper.OLE) and nisin on the quality attributes of camel steaks packaged under high O2 (80%) and CO2 (20%) atmosphere was investigated during refrigerated (1 ± 1 ¿C) long-term storage. As measured by reversed phase HPLC/DAD analysis, oleuropein is the phenolic compound most present in the chemical composition of laper.OLE (63.03%). Camel steaks treated with laper.OLE had a lower concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RSs) in the course of 30 days of storage. Surface metmyoglobin (MetMb) increased at a reduced rate in laper.OLE-treated samples compared to control samples. Neither modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) nor biopreservation treatments significantly altered the tenderness of camel steaks, expressed in terms of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), as compared to control samples. After 30 days of storage, psychrotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. counts were significantly lower in camel steaks treated with a combination of laper.OLE and nisin than in untreated steaks. Moreover, samples treated with laper.OLE received higher scores on bitterness acceptability. In sum, the use of combined biopreservation methods could be a sustainable solution for the preservation and promotion of the quality characteristics of camel meat in arid regions

Antifungal, antitoxigenic, and antioxidant activities of the essential oil from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.): Potential use as wheat preservative

Essential oils (EOs) are widely used in the food industry as natural food preservatives to extend product shelf life and as flavoring agents. The aim of this work was to study the chemical profile of the EO from laurel (Laurus nobilis) and its antifungal, antitoxigenic, and antioxidant activities. The extractive yield of the EO from Algerian laurel was 1.13% being 1,8-cineole the most dominant compound (35.5%) by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The values of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against Aspergillus flavus were 1.75 and 2 mg/ml, respectively. The production of aflatoxin B1 was inhibited by EO concentrations between 0.25 mg/ml (15% decrease) and 1.50 mg/ml (86% decrease), and it was totally inhibited at the MFC value. The EO showed a wide antifungal spectrum against other species in a dose-dependent manner. In a food-model study, the L. nobilis EO showed remarkable efficacy in fumigated wheat grains, providing from 51.5% to 76.7% protection against A. flavus during 6-month storage. The L. nobilis EO showed good free radical scavenging activity by DPPH assay (IC50 value of 602 μg/ml) and moderate antioxidant activity in the β-carotene bleaching assay (46% inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation). The conclusions of this study justify future research for the application of EO from laurel as a natural preservative to improve food safety and extend shelf life by controlling spoilage and toxigenic molds as well as oxidative damage