Betalains from Opuntia stricta peels: UPLC-MS/MS metabolites profiling, computational investigation, and potential applicability as a raw meat colorant
Moufida Chaari,
Sarra Akermi,
Khaoula Elhadef,
Monia Ennouri,
Lobna Jlaiel,
Mohamed Ali Mosrati,
Lotfi Mellouli,
Walid Elfalleh,
Theodoros Varzakas,
Slim Smaoui
Affiliations
Moufida Chaari
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
Sarra Akermi
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
Khaoula Elhadef
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
Monia Ennouri
Olive Tree Institute, LR16IO01, Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia; Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, Tunisia
Lobna Jlaiel
Unity of Analysis, CBS, Sfax, Tunisia
Mohamed Ali Mosrati
Unity of Analysis, CBS, Sfax, Tunisia; Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sidi Mansour Road Km 6, BP “1177”, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
Lotfi Mellouli
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia
Walid Elfalleh
Department of Life Sciences, Al Imam Mohamed Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), 11623, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes (ISSATGb), University of Gabes, Gabes, 6072, Tunisia
Theodoros Varzakas
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100, Kalamata, Greece
Slim Smaoui
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia; Corresponding author.
Given consumers', environmental and sustainability apprehensions, the meat industry investigated the natural colorant resources. As proof, betalain, Opuntia stricta peels (OSP) pigment, is premeditated in the meat industry. Here, OSP betalains were qualitatively profiled using UPLC-MS/MS, and 7 metabolites were identified: 6 betacyanins and a betaxanthin (arginine-betaxanthin). Molecular docking simulations of cyclo-Dopa-5-O-β-glucoside, as the core betacyanins structure, and the arginine-betaxanthin, displayed the lowest free energies of binding at −8.1 and −7.6 kcal/mol, respectively. These compounds inhibit the L. monocytogenes replication and transcription processes by targeting dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Then, OSP extracts (0.003, 0.006 and 0.012 %) were incorporated in the raw refrigerated beef meat, and compared to Allura red E129 at 0.002 % for 14 days. By the end of storage, OSP at 0.012 % decreased the chemical oxidation, enhanced the sensory traits, and improved the instrumental color. In addition, chemometrics could distinguish between all samples linking oxidative and microbiological variables to sensory/instrumental color attributes.
