Regulation of protein oxidation in Cantonese sausages by rutin, quercetin and caffeic acid

The effects of rutin, quercetin, and caffeic acid on protein oxidation in Cantonese sausage during 60 days of storage at room temperature (25 ± 1 °C) were investigated. The results showed that the three phenolic compounds played different roles in inhibiting the oxidation of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein. All of them inhibited sarcoplasmic protein oxidation by retarding carbonylation, the conversion of SH to S-S groups, and the formation of dimeric tyrosine and Schiff bases, of which rutin is the most effective. For myofibrillar protein, all of them suppressed the conversion of SH to S-S groups, only caffeic acid inhibited the accumulation of Schiff bases instead of carbonyls while both quercetin and caffeic acid inhibited the formation of dimeric tyrosine. In addition, quercetin had an inverse dosage effect on the oxidation regulation of MP, 0.16 g/kg quercetin had better inhibit effect on protein oxidation than 0.32 g/kg quercetin. •The regulation mechanisms of protein oxidation by three phenols were compared.•Rutin, quercetin and caffeic acid inhibit myofibrillar protein oxidation in different ways.•Rutin helps improve the structural stability of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein.•Quercetin inhibits the dimeric tyrosine formation during myofibrillar oxidation.•Caffeic acid retards the accumulation of Schiff bases instead of carbonyls.