The effect of linalool, limonene and sabinene on the thermal stability and structure of rabbit meat myofibrillar protein under malondialdehyde-induced oxidative stress

Abstract This study aimed to assess the protective effects of the main components of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. essential oil (ZBMEO) on the characteristics of rabbit meat myofibrillar protein (MP) under MDA (malondialdehyde) induced oxidation. The MP suspensions were mixed with various concentrations (5 mM, 25 mM and 50 mM) of linalool, limonene, sabinene under MDA-induced oxidation. The retained MDA contents were determined, and the thermal stability and structure of rabbit meat myofibrillar protein were analyzed. Linalool, limonene and sabinene can prevent MDA from binding to MP effectively. The addition of linalool, limonene and sabinene led to the increase in the sulfhydryl and free amine contents, and the decrease in the carbonyl content and surface hydrophobicity compared to control MP. Also, the addition had protective effects on maintaining the secondary structure and morphology of MP under MDA-induced oxidation. The Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that linalool, limonene, sabinene had an obvious protective effect on MHC and actin. The above results suggest that linalool, limonene and sabinene could reduce the oxidative damage of MDA to MP, which might have the potential in protecting the structure and physicochemical properties of the protein in foods.