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Article

Aroma-Active Compounds in Jinhua Ham Produced With Different Fermentation Periods

Laboratory of Molecular Sensory Science, College of Food and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2014, 19(11), 19097-19113; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191119097
Submission received: 12 September 2014 / Revised: 21 October 2014 / Accepted: 5 November 2014 / Published: 19 November 2014
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

Abstract

:
The aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham processed and stored for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months were extracted by dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and analyzed by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS). In GC-O-MS, volatile compounds were identified based on their mass spectrum, linear retention index (LRI), odor properties, or reference compound comparisons. The results showed that a total number of 81 aroma-active compounds were identified by GC-O-MS. Among them, acids (such as acetic acid, butanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid), saturated aldehydes (such as hexanal, heptanal, octanal and 3-methylbutanal), benzene derivatives (such as benzeneacetic acid), ester and lactone (such as γ-nonalactone and γ-decalactone) were identified as critical compounds in Jinhua ham aroma. The results also indicated that the type and content of the odorants increased significantly with the duration of the fermentation period.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

Dry-cured ham is generally classified based on the origin. In particular, the three main forms from southern China, southern or central Europe and the southeastern United States, have many differences in their sensory properties [1]. Jinhua ham, Parma ham, Iberian ham and the American ham are their best known representatives [2,3,4,5]. In China, Jinhua ham, along with “Xuanwei ham” and “Rugao ham”, are well known as the “three hams”. The traditional processing technology for making Jinhua ham is composed of multiple steps, including raw material selection, salting, soaking and washing, sun drying and shaping, fermentation, ripening, post-ripening, grading and storage [6]. The unique flavor of Jinhua ham is appreciated by consumers all over the world. Nowadays, ham quality is graded by its aroma intensity and persistence on the bamboo stick, but different processing technologies can make a great difference in the flavor quality of ham. Therefore, the control of ham flavor formation during processing is very important for ham grading, so comprehensive research of Jinhua ham flavor is crucial for better ham quality and the establishment of a national traditional meat products standard.
In the fermentation process, relevant chemical and biological reactions take place in the muscle of Jinhua ham, such as lipid degradation and oxidation, Maillard reactions, Strecker degradation, etc., resulting in the special ham flavor [7]. Many exploration methods and technologies have been used to analyze the odorants in Jinhua ham, including dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) [8], purge-and-trap (P&T) [9], solid phase microextraction (SPME) [10], but to our knowledge, there are few studies on the identification of variations of key odorants of Jinhua ham at different fermentation stages, compared to that of Western dry-cured hams such as Parma and Iberian ham [11,12,13,14,15,16].
The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the aroma-active compounds of Jinhua ham under different processing times and operation conditions by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS), aided by both dynamic headspace dilution analysis (DHDA) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) techniques.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Aroma-Active Compounds

A total of 81 aroma-active compounds of Jinhua ham in different processing time were identified by DHS-GC-O-MS and SAFE-GC-O-MS. The compounds included 15 saturated and unsaturated aldehydes (Figure 1), 11 ketones (Figure 2), 12 alcohols (Figure 2), 11 acids (Figure 3), 11 esters and lactones (Figure 3), five sulfides (Figure 4), seven benzene derivatives compounds (Figure 4), three pyrazines and six others (Figure 4).

2.2. Key Aroma-Active Compounds by Dynamic Headspace Dilution Analysis (DHDA)

Sixty-seven compounds were identified as odorants by DHS-GC-O-MS (Table 1) and eight compounds remained unknown. Among the identified compounds, 3-methylbutanoic acid (odor: sour and sweaty), 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (odor: popcorn), trimethylamine (odor: fishy) and γ-nonalactone (odor: peachy and sweet) had average FD factors over one hundred (where Average FD factor = Sum of the FD factors in one compound of 18, 15, 12 and 9 months ham/4). Seven other identified compounds: acetic acid (odor: sour), hexanal (odor: cut-grass), 2,6-dimethylpyrazine (odor: toast and nutty), butanoic acid (odor: cheesy), methional (odor: cooked potato), γ-decalactone (odor: peachy and burnt sugar) and 1-nonen-3-one (odor: mushroom) had average FD factors ≥ 50.
Figure 1. Structures of the saturated and unsaturated aldehydes in Jinhua ham.
Figure 1. Structures of the saturated and unsaturated aldehydes in Jinhua ham.
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Figure 2. Structures of the ketones and alcohols in Jinhua ham.
Figure 2. Structures of the ketones and alcohols in Jinhua ham.
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Figure 3. Structures of the acids, esters and lactones in Jinhua ham.
Figure 3. Structures of the acids, esters and lactones in Jinhua ham.
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Figure 4. Structures of the sulfides, benzene series compounds, pyrazines and other compounds in Jinhua ham.
Figure 4. Structures of the sulfides, benzene series compounds, pyrazines and other compounds in Jinhua ham.
Molecules 19 19097 g004
Table 1. Aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham by DHS.
Table 1. Aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham by DHS.
Nr aCompound Name bR.I. cIdentification dOdor Property eFD f
R.I.(DB-5ms)R.I.(DB-WAX)1815129 c
38methanthiol-627RI,Orotten egg251251-
76trimethylamine503848RI,O,MSfishy12512512525
50ethyl acetate610877RI,O,MS,STDfruity/sweet25251-
23-methylbutanal638927RI,O,MSchocolate/malty2512551
27ethanol-941RI,O,MS,STDalcohol11--
77triethylamine677970RI,O,MSfishy2525--
172-pentanone-971RI,O,MSfruity525--
3pentanal700984RI,O,MSfermented/yoghourt2555-
542-methyl-butanoic acid ethyl ester8501051RI,O,MSfruity/sweet25551
51acetic acid butyl ester8121059RI,Ogreen/fruity55--
182-methyl-3-pentanone-1068RI,O,MSmint255--
61disulfide, dimethyl7501079RI,O,MScooked cabbage/onion252511
4hexanal8031094RI,O,MS,STDcut-grass125125255
321-methoxy-2-propanol-1137RI,O,MSplastic1111
331-penten-3-ol6881164RI,O,MS,STDbuttery/grassy/green51--
unknown-1179RI,O,MSpopcorn525--
5heptanal9051183RI,O,MSoily/green2551-
78D-limonene10281191RI,O,MS,STDsweet /orange5255-
79pyridine7571193RI,O,MSspicy1111
unknown-1199Ocooked potato251251-
303-methyl-1-butanol-1201RI,O,MSfermented/oily/fruity5---
802-pentylfuran9951231RI,O,MS,STDfruity/green55--
52hexanoic acid ethyl ester10001232RI,O,MSfruity/apple--51
281-pentanol7601250RI,O,MSgreen15-1
10(E)-2-hexenal855-RI,O,MSgreen/fatty55--
unknown-1270Opopcorn1251255-
6octanal10091287RI,O,MSfatty5511
223-octen-2-one10451285RI,O,MSfatty/nutty/spicy25125--
203-hydroxy-2-butanone7221286RI,O,MSbuttery/green551-
211-octen-3-one9801297RI,O,MS,STDmushroom12512555
191-hydroxy-2-propanone6801307RI,O,MSnutty/bitter--15
11(E)-2-heptenal9611317RI,O,MS,STDfatty/fruity2525--
812-acetyl-1-pyrroline9121339RI,O,STDpopcorn62512512525
unknown-1345Ofishy2525--
732,6-dimethylpyrazine9191337RI,O,MS,STDtoast/nutty125125255
63dimethyl trisulfide-1380RI,O,MSgarlic/cooked cabbage125255-
74trimethylpyrazine10061395RI,O,MS,STDnutty/chocolate25511
231-nonen-3-one-1404RI,O,MSmushroom2551-
7nonanal11021408RI,O,MSgreen/fatty/soapy2515-
363,5-octadien-2-ol-1408RI,O,MSgreen1---
12(E)-2-octenal10641425RI,O,MSfatty255--
75tetramethylpyrazine1084-RI,O,MS,STDnutty1--1
341-octen-3-ol9861445RI,O,MSmushroom5252525
39acetic acid6581446RI,O,MS,STDsour1251252525
9methional9061450RI,Ocooked potato12512525-
8furfural-1453RI,O,STDsweet popcorn/wood12525--
26camphor11451503RI,O,MScamphor511-
472-methylpropanoic acid8281550RI,O,MSsock/stinky2512511
66benzaldehyde9691515RI,O,MSalmond55--
24(E,E)-3,5-octadien-2-one10911520RI,O,MSfatty5-1-
40propanoic acid7181556RI,O,MSsour2525--
unknown-1559Ochocolate2511-
372,3-butanediol7831581RI,O,MSfruity/creamy/oily--525
14(E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal-1586RI,Ocucumber111-
35(E)-2-octen-1-ol-1607RI,O,MSmushroom-5--
55butyrolactone9501613RI,O,MShay5251-
unknown-1617Orancid/fishy125125--
41butanoic acid8211630RI,O,MScheesy125125255
56γ-pentalactone-1632RI,O,MScreamy251--
53decanoic acid, ethyl ester-1637RI,O,MSfruity51-1
67acetophenone10781612RI,O,MSflower/sweet--11
483-methylbutanoic acid8761667RI,O,MSsour/sweat625625625125
13(E,E)-2,4-nonadienal11551703RI,O,MSfatty/fried51--
57γ-hexanolactone10621705RI,O,MShay/sweet251--
42pentanoic acid9111714RI,O,MSmeat/rancid1252511
652-acetyl-2-thiazoline-1759RI,Opopcorn155-
15(E,E)-2,4-decadienal-1812RI,O,MS,STDfatty/fried5-1-
43hexanoic acid9971833RI,O,MSsour/rancid51--
714-methylguaiacol-1938RI,Omushroom/smoke255--
58γ-nonalactone11242023RI,Opeachy/sweet12512512525
72p-cresol-2031RI,Ofecal12525251
59δ-nonalactone13632035RI,O,MScoconut/creamy/sweet125525
60γ-decalactone13702150RI,Opeachy12512525-
unknown-2178Omedicine25255-
unknown-2185Oburnt sugar125125--
Notes: a Nr was corresponded to the compound number in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4; b Compound name: The compounds were identified in Jinhua ham; c Linear retention index (LRI) for the odorants in DB-5ms and DB-WAX column; d Method of odorant identification included RI,O, MS and STD which represented linear retention index, odor property, mass spectrum and authentic standards verification in GC-MS; e Odor descriptors are those used by all assessors, with most frequently used terms cited first; f Nitrogen stream purging at 70 mL/min for 50, 10, 2, 0.4 min respectively, the FD factors were 1, 5, 25,125 respectively; purging at 14 mL/min for 0.4 min, the FD factor was 625.
In Table 2, combined with the GC-O results, 13 critical compounds were selected to calculate their respective odor activity value (OAV). Generally, the compound contributed to the whole flavor profile if its OAV ≥ 1. Table 2 showed that all the five saturated aldehydes, three acids, one alcohol, one sulfide and three other compounds were identified as the key compounds that contribute to the overall aroma of Jinhua ham. Figure 5 shows the category of compounds in ham by DHS. It was obvious that, along with the increase of the fermentation time, the kind and content of the odorants increased, especially in the categories of acid, saturated aldehyde, ester and lactone. Among them, odorants such as acetic acid, butanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid made contributions of sour, sock and cheesy notes to the overall aroma profile of Jinhua ham. Therefore as aldehydes like hexanal, heptanal, octanal and 3-methylbutanal made odor impacts of green, fatty and chocolate-like notes, and ester and lactones such as γ-nonalactone and γ-decalactone contributed fruity, sweet and creamy odors.
Figure 5. The category of compounds in Jinhua ham by DHS. D9, D12, D15 and D18 referred to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of DHS for aroma extraction of sample, respectively.
Figure 5. The category of compounds in Jinhua ham by DHS. D9, D12, D15 and D18 referred to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of DHS for aroma extraction of sample, respectively.
Molecules 19 19097 g005
Table 2. OAVs of predominant odorants in Jinhua hams by DHS.
Table 2. OAVs of predominant odorants in Jinhua hams by DHS.
Nr aCompound NameOdor PropertyThreshold (ppb in Water)18-inner18-inner15-inner15-inner12-inner12-inner9-inner9-inner
Concn (ppb)OAVConcn (ppb)OAVConcn (ppb)OAVConcn (ppb)OAV
76trimethylaminefishy0.72280 ± 2343256730 ± 361043179 ± 35256327 ± 22467
23-methylbutanalchocolate/malty0.22892 ± 37314,4581413 ± 127706671 ± 283561121 ± 655607
3pentanalfermented/yoghourt25--526 ± 3321358 ± 2114--
61dimethyl disulfidecooked cabbage/onion61358 ± 279226736 ± 61123725 ± 6312141 ± 97
4hexanalcut-grass4.52719 ± 2526041414 ± 2213141896 ± 98421152 ± 1234
5heptanaloily/green3297 ± 33100541 ± 26180128 ± 12439 ± 23
78D-limonenesweet/orange-like10248 ± 3125--223 ± 4922323 ± 3332
802-pentylfuranfruity/green661 ± 2710529 ± 418835 ± 106114 ± 2719
6octanalfatty0.7148 ± 46211421 ± 6860292 ± 151325 ± 17
341-octen-3-olmushroom1243 ± 37243----5 ± 15
39acetic acidsour22,00052,796 ± 1673221,837 ± 7511----
41butanoic acidcheesy2403167 ± 121131887 ± 18981864 ± 1498--
483-methylbutanoic acidsour/sweaty1202842 ± 336241533 ± 267132601 ± 25922--
Note: a Nr was corresponded to the compound number in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4.
Table 3. Aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham by SAFE.
Table 3. Aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham by SAFE.
Nr aCompound Name bR.I. cIdentification dOdor Property eLog3FD f
R.I.(DB-5ms)R.I.(DB-WAX)18-inner15-inner12-inner9-inner c
1methylpropanal540867RI,O,MSgreen/floral--<1<1
50ethyl acetate605880RI,O,MS,STDfruity/sweet-2-2
162-butanone603900RI,O,MSgreen2---
27ethanol-930RI,O,MS,STDalcohol--11
unknown---floral/sweet11-3
542-methyl-butanoic acid ethyl ester8551049RI,O,MSfruity/sweet2--2
61dimethyl disulfide7501079RI,O,MScooked cabbage/onion14<1<1
4hexanal7901084RI,O,MS,STDcut-grass4321
802-pentylfuran9901240RI,O,MS,STDfruity/green132<1
52hexanoic acid ethyl ester9991232RI,O,MSfruity/apple-<1-<1
62isopropyl disulfide1018-RI,O,MSsulfurous211-
203-hydroxy-2-butanone7201286RI,O,MSbuttery/green1--<1
6octanal10011280RI,O,MSfatty322<1
211-octen-3-one-1289RI,O,STDmushroom3332
732,6-dimethylpyrazine9221308RI,O,MS,STDtoast/nutty3421
291-hexanol8691360RI,O,MSleafy/green11--
63dimethyl trisulfide-1377RI,O,MSgarlic/cooked cabbage414-
7nonanal11021385RI,O,MSgreen/fatty/soapy2221
39acetic acid6251450RI,O,MS,STDsour4233
9methional-1455RI,Ocooked potato4353
312-ethyl-1-hexanol-1487RI,O,MSgreen11--
40propanoic acid6681523RI,O,MSsour1<111
64dipropyl trisulfide11041536RI,O,MSgarlic/onion/penetrating<12--
372,3-butanediol8001583RI,O,MSfruity/creamy/oily<1121
472-methyl-propanoic acid7901501RI,O,MSsock/stinky2--1
41butanoic acid8151621RI,O,MScheesy4444
483-methyl-butanoic acid8481664RI,O,MSsour/sweat5554
42pentanoic acid9331719RI,O,MSmeaty/rancid2311
15(E,E)-2,4-decadienal-1812RI,O,MS,STDfatty/fried422-
43hexanoic acid9971856RI,O,MSsour/rancid322-
68phenylethyl alcohol-1895RI,O,MSrosy1-1-
44heptanoic acid10761932RI,O,MSsour11--
58γ-nonalactone-2035RI,O,MSpeachy/sweet5552
45octanoic Acid11862040RI,O,MSsour1121
72p-cresol10842056RI,O,MSfecal4233
253,6-dimethyl-octan-2-one-2078RI,O,MSfatty1---
60γ-decalactone-2150RI,Opeachy5543
46decanoic acid13822259RI,O,MSsmoky/acid1-2<1
493-(methylthio)-propanoic acid-2293RI,O,MSoily/acid21--
69benzoic acid-2453RI,O,MSbenzoin/balsam12--
70benzeneacetic acid-2562RI,O,MSrosy5542
Notes: a Nr was corresponded to the compound number in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4.; b Compound name: The compounds were identified in Jinhua ham; c Linear retention index (LRI) for the odorants in DB-5ms and DB-WAX column; d Method of odorant identification included RI,O, MS and STD which represented linear retention index, odor property, mass spectrum and authentic standards verification in GC-MS; e Odor descriptors are those used by all assessors, with most frequently used terms cited first; f Serial dilutions (1:3, 1:9, 1:27 and so on) in mixed solution of redistilled ether and n- pentane (v:v = 2:1), the Log3FD were 1, 2, 3 and so on respectively.
Table 4. OAVs of predominant odorants in Jinhua hams by SAFE.
Table 4. OAVs of predominant odorants in Jinhua hams by SAFE.
Nr aCompound NameOdor PropertyThreshold (ppb in Water)18-inner
Concn (ppb)
18-inner
OAV
15-inner
Concn (ppb)
15-inner
OAV
12-inner
Concn (ppb)
12-inner
OAV
9-inner
Concn (ppb)
9-inner
OAV
4hexanalcut-grass4.5986 ± 78219122 ± 927112 ± 1225--
6octanalfatty0.7264 ± 1937748 ± 66892 ± 9131--
732,6-dimethylpyrazinetoast/nutty200206 ± 11132 ± 60----
7nonanalgreen/fatty/soapy1439 ± 12439261 ± 20261497 ± 2649753 ± 353
41butanoic acidcheesy2402437 ± 12110978 ± 344736 ± 313228 ± 131
483-methylbutanoic acidsour/sweaty1208783 ± 362736199 ± 53152466 ± 2141456 ± 9812
15(E,E)-2,4-decadienalfatty/fried0.07489 ± 236980306 ± 12437110,971 ± 512768--
58γ-nonalactonepeachy/sweet30493 ± 1116--33 ± 71--
72p-cresolfecal55221 ± 254127 ± 23277 ± 111--
Note: a Nr was corresponded to the compound number in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4.

2.3. Key Aroma-Active Compounds by Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation (SAFE) and Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA)

As a rapid and effective method, SAFE maintains the advantages of solvent extraction and avoids the disadvantage of SDE, such as high temperature that can contribute to whole odor changes [17]. The odorants receiving tube was kept under a low temperature (−196 °C) and a high vacuum (10−4 Torr) which could increase the capability of trapping of volatiles.
Forty compounds were identified as odorants by SAFE-GC-O-MS (Table 3). The odorants were of middle and high molecular weight. By GC-O, five compounds: 3-methylbutanoic acid (odor: sour and sweaty), γ-nonalactone (odor: peachy and sweet), γ-decalactone (odor: peachy), butanoic acid (odor: cheesy) and benzeneacetic acid (odor: rosy) had the average log3FD factor ≥ 4 (Average log3FD factor = The sum of the log3FD factors in one compound of 18, 15, 12 and 9 months ham/4 and log3FD factor < 1 was equal to 0.5). With the development of the degree of fermentation (increase in fermentation time), the main aroma components fell into two odor classes. One was cheesy or sour with the smell of fermentation and the other was sweet, fruity with a pleasurable smell. The following eight identified compounds had the average log3FD factor ≥ 2: methional (odor: cooked potato), acetic acid (odor: sour), p-cresol (odor: fecal), 1-octen-3-one (odor: mushroom), hexanal (odor: cut-grass), 2,6-dimethylpyrazine (odor: toast and nutty), dimethyl trisulfide (odor: garlic and cooked cabbage) and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (odor: fatty and fried). These compounds enhanced the complexity of ham aroma.
In Table 4, based on the results by GC-O, nine critical compounds, which include three saturated aldehydes, two acids, one unsaturated aldehyde, one ester and lactone, one benzene series compound and one pyrazine, were selected and their odor activity value (OAV) calculated. However, the OAV conclusion had a limitation due to the fact that the odor thresholds of some compounds in water and ham might be different. The identification of some critical odorants, such as 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (odor: popcorn) for example, was carried out by comparing the RI and odor quality with a standard substance, because its concentration was too low to be detected by GC-MS. Figure 6 shows the categories of compounds in Jinhua ham by SAFE. The odorants categories were similar to the results by DHS. With the increase of the fermentation time, the type and content of the odorants increased, they were relatively high molecular aroma compounds such as γ-nonalactone, γ-decalactone and benzeneacetic acid, with fruity, creamy and rosy odor properties. Another aspect of the aroma compounds in the AFE extract was that acids and saturated aldehydes were predominant.
The volatile profile of Jinhua hams in different fermentation periods is shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, which indicate obvious changes during the fermentation period. This is due to a high content of glycerides in the Jinhua ham that could be hydrolyzed with the endogenous enzymes in the fermentation period. Saturated or unsaturated aldehydes have long been reported as the important contributors of the aroma of hams [5,10,18]. Among them, the branched-chain saturated aldehydes such as methylpropanal and 3-methylbutanal in the ham were originated from Strecker degradation of valine and leucine, while the linear chain aldehydes and unsaturated aldehydes were generated from the degradation of long-chain fatty acids [10,18]. Triglycerides and phospholipids could degrade to many free fatty acids, and then degrade further to a considerable amount of linear and branched chain small molecular acids [19]. The branched-chain fatty acids such as propanoic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid were also reported to originate from the oxidation of the corresponding aldehydes, e.g., methylpropanal, 3-methylbutanal, etc. [20]. These carboxylic acids were identified as key aroma-active compounds for the mature hams while few of them were identified in the raw ham volatiles [21]. The formation of alcohols from the reduction of aldehydes or ketones was also reported [22]. In addition, ketenes and hydroxyl ketones were the main ketones found in the Jinhua ham. It is well known that 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and 1-hydroxy-2-propanone could originate from glycogen degradation via Maillard reactions [23]. The other 12 alcohols and four ketenes identified in this study were very common in fungal metabolism [24,25]. Acids and alcohols are the key precursors of esters. The fruity/sweet odor component ethyl acetate, 2-methylbutanoic acid ethyl ester, hexanoic acid ethyl ester and decanoic acid ethyl ester come from the esterification of ethanol with acetic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, hexanoic acid and decanoic acid, respectively. The milk/peach-like lactones which are the key aroma-active compounds in the odor of Jinhua ham, could be formed from the auto-oxidation of short-chain fatty acids [8].
Figure 6. The categories of compounds in Jinhua ham by SAFE. S9, S12, S15 and S18 referred to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of SAFE was for aroma extraction of samples, respectively.
Figure 6. The categories of compounds in Jinhua ham by SAFE. S9, S12, S15 and S18 referred to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of SAFE was for aroma extraction of samples, respectively.
Molecules 19 19097 g006
Based on the quantitative data of the volatiles, clustering analysis was done to clearly show the aggregative relationship between the samples. As shown in Figure 7, D9, D12, D15 and D18 referred to the Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of DHS for aroma extraction, while S9, S12, S15 and S18 were referred to the SAFE for sampling. As illustrated by Figure 7, hams with different maturation time were distinguished clearly on the axis. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) accounted for 83% of the variance in the data set. The circle 1 in Figure 7 shows that the overall aroma of Jinhua hams tends to be stable as the ripening time reaches to 12 months. In contrast, circle 2 shown that odorants in the headspace of Jinhua ham was almost similar after 9 months of storage. It was reported that the content of free amino acids in the Iberian ham remained almost steady after a 230 days drying stage [16]. Hinrichsen et al. also found that the sensory properties of Parma ham showed minor changes after 365 days of storage [26].
Figure 7. Principal components loadings for different pretreatment methods. D9, D12, D15 and D18 refer to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of DHS for aroma extraction of samples, respectively. S9, S12, S15 and S18 refer to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of SAFE for aroma extraction of samples, respectively.
Figure 7. Principal components loadings for different pretreatment methods. D9, D12, D15 and D18 refer to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of DHS for aroma extraction of samples, respectively. S9, S12, S15 and S18 refer to Jinhua ham processed for 9, 12, 15 and 18 months and application of SAFE for aroma extraction of samples, respectively.
Molecules 19 19097 g007

3. Experimental Section

3.1. Materials and Chemicals

Jinhua ham samples were supplied by Jinzi Ham Co. Ltd. (Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China) and the processing time of the hams were 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Jinhua hams were processed by the traditional ways of raw material selection, salting, soaking and washing, sun drying and shaping, fermentation, ripening, post-ripening, grading and storage. n-Alkanes (C7–C22) and the internal standard (2-methyl-3-heptanone, chromatographic reagent) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Co. Ltd. (St. Louis, MO, USA), authentic standards of odorants were also obtained from Sigma–Aldrich Co. Ltd. and Beijing Huihai Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd. (Beijing, China).

3.2. Preparation of Jinhua Ham Samples

The biceps muscles parts of the hams were cut into small pieces (approximately 0.2 cm3) and frozen in a freezer (control, −80 °C). The frozen samples were used for odorant extraction by dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE).

3.3. The Extraction of Aroma Compounds by Dynamic Headspace Sampling (DHS)

Dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) was done using a dynamic headspace sampling vessel (150 mL, Kimble Glass, Beijing, China). Volatile compounds of the sample headspace were trapped onto a Tenax TA tube, which was placed onto the vessel. The Tenax tube was then dry purged for 20 min (TD controller, Gerstel, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany) to remove moisture for aroma analysis. Aroma compounds from Tenax trap were thermally desorbed at 280 °C using a TDSA2 system (Gerstel) into a cryo-cooled (−150 °C) CIS (the cold injection system) inlet (Gerstel). Injection was splitless (inlet heating rate of 12 °C/min to 260 °C).

3.4. Dynamic Headspace Dilution Analysis (DHDA)

Small pieces of hams (1 g) and 2-methyl-3-heptanone (500 ng/g) added as the internal standard were put into the dynamic headspace sampling vessel. After equilibrating 30 min at 50 °C (water-bath circulation), the sample was purged with a nitrogen stream at a flow-rate of 100 mL/min for 60, 12.5, 2.5 or 0.5 min, the FD factors were 1, 5, 25, 125 respectively. Compounds with higher FD are considered to be more critical.

3.5. The Extraction of Aroma Compounds by Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation (SAFE)

Small pieces of ham (50 g) and 2-methyl-3-heptanone added as the internal standard (500 ng/g) were mixed in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus (Kimble Glass) , Redistilled ether and n-pentane (v:v = 2:1, 120 mL) was used as a solvent in the round bottomed flask (250 mL) at 40 °C in water bath. Soxhlet extraction lasted for 5 h and then applied the solvent-phase extracts into a SAFE apparatus (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Lebensmittelchemie, Freising, Germany). The apparatus was made up of vacuum pump, receiving tube and waste tube and it was processed under the low temperature (liquid nitrogen, −196 °C) and at a high vacuum (10−4 Torr). Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation was conducted for 1 h to trap the odorants. After the above process, the SAFE extracts were dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and then frozen at −18 °C for 12 h for removal of moisture. The volume of SAFE extracts was reduced to 0.5 mL under a gentle stream of nitrogen (99.995% purity). The concentrate was stored at in freezer (control, −80 °C) for further analysis.

3.6. Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA)

Serial dilutions were prepared from the initial SAFE extracts (0.5 mL) in the ratio of 1:3 in diethyl ether. Aliquots were then analyzed by GC-O-MS. The highest dilution in which the compound was detected was the flavor dilution (FD) factor of that compound [27]. This was serial dilutions (1:3, 1:9, 1:27, ……, 3n) to ready injection, the log3FD were 1, 2, 3, ……, n respectively. Compounds with higher log3FD were considered more critical.

3.7. Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry (GC-O-MS) Analysis

The analysis of odorants was performed on a GC 7890A coupled to a Triple Quad 7000B (both from Agilent, Palo Alto, CA, USA), and equipped with a Sniffer 9000 Olfactometer (Brechbühler, Switzerland). Separations of odorant compounds in GC were performed on DB-5ms UI (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm, J & W Scientific, Folsom, CA, USA), and DB-WAX (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm, J & W Scientific). The carrier gas was ultra-high purity helium with a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. GC oven program was 40 °C for 3 min, ramped at 5 °C/min to 200 °C, and then ramped at 5 °C/min to 230 °C and held at 230 °C for 3 min. The temperatures of the injector and the GC/MS interface were 250 °C and 280 °C respectively. Electron-impact mass spectra were generated at 70 eV, with m/z scan range from 45 to 650 amu with the ion source temperature of 230 °C. Compounds were identified according to NIST 2.0 mass spectra libraries installed in the GC-MS equipment. GC-O was performed by three panelists who had the experience of sniffing odorants for two years and trained for sniffing the authentic standards for 5 days.

3.8. Identification and Quantification of Volatile Compounds

The chemical identification was based on the comparison of the mass spectrum, retention index and odor description with reference compounds, and some critical odorants were verified by comparison with authentic standard compounds. Mass spectra identification was based on the NIST 2.0 mass spectra libraries. The RI values and odor descriptions on DB-5ms UI and DB-WAX column with those of linear retention indices (LRIs) having the same/similar odor quality and RI, previously reported in database [28] and literature [29]. The maximum allowable deviation range of RI values was ±20. n-Alkanes (C7–C22) were analyzed under the same conditions to calculate LRIs:
LRI = 100N + 100n (tRa − tRN)/(tR(N + n) − tRN)
which was described by Dool and Krazt [30]. The volatile extraction methods of DHS and SAFE were also applied for odorants quantification. The internal standard, 2-methyl-3-heptanone at a concentration of 500 ng/g (500 ng of the internal standard/1 g of the sample), was added into the sample with the injection of 1 μL. The concentration for each odorant compound was calculated as follows:
Ci = CIS Ai/AIS
The abbreviations Ci, CIS, Ai and AIS represent the concentration of an odorant, concentration of internal standard, peak area of an odorant and peak area of internal standard on GC chromatogram respectively.

3.9. Odor Activity Value (OAV)

The evaluating methods of contributions in odorants were FD factors and odor activity value (OAV). In the method of OAV evaluation, the threshold of odorant was from other relevant literatures. The OAV for odorant compound was calculated as follows:
OAV = Ci/Ti
The abbreviations Ci and Ti represent the concentration and threshold of an odorant, respectively.

3.10. Statistical Analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham by DHS and SAFE. The relationship between hams at different fermentation times and cooking conditions were shown by principal component analysis based on the data from the tables of aroma-active compounds in Jinhua ham (Table 1 and Table 2). Principal components (PC) that explained a total variance greater than 80% were selected and the varimax rotation method was applied. The SPSS 17.0 software package was used for data analysis.

4. Conclusions

With the combination of different fermentation times and two odorant extraction methods, 81 aroma-active compounds were identified by GC-O-MS of Jinhua ham. Among them, acids, saturated aldehydes, benzene derivatives, esters and lactones were regarded as critical compound categories in Jinhua ham. With the increase of fermentation time, the type and content of the odorants increased significantly. Thirteen predominant odorants were identified in Jinhua ham by DHS-GC-O-MS, including trimethylamine, 3-methylbutanal, pentanal, dimethyl disulfide, hexanal, heptanal, D-limonene, 2-pentylfuran, octanal, 1-octen-3-ol, acetic acid, butanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid. Nine key odorants including hexanal, octanal, 2,6-dimethyl-pyrazine, nonanal, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, γ-nonalactone and p-cresol were identified in Jinhua ham by SAFE-GC-O-MS. Compounds identified as the common important odorants extracted by both SAFE-GC-O-MS and DHS-GC-O-MS methods were hexanal, octanal, butanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid, forming the principal aroma profile of fermented, fatty and green notes of Jinhua ham.
By the using of aroma extraction and analysis methods such as SAFE, DHS, GC-O-MS, the odor-active compounds of different fermentation periods were identified, and the relationship between hams of different fermentation periods were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), so that to provide theoretical basis for the optimization of processing technology parameter and the more production of better score of ham grading. Further study on the aroma profile of Jinhua ham may be useful for product quality control of traditional Chinese dishes.

Acknowledgments

This study was done by the financial support of National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) of China (2011AA100805-0-3).

Author Contributions

The research project was conceived by Huan-Lu Song, Ye Liu and Ting-Ting Zou, who also perfected the manuscript. Xiao-Sheng Liu and Jian-Bin Liu performed research including data analysis and interpretation, literature search, and wrote the manuscript. Zheng-Mao Yang contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools.

Abbreviations

DHS
dynamic headspace sampling
SAFE
solvent-assisted flavor evaporation
P&T
purge-and-trap
SPME
solid phase microextraction
GC-O-MS
gas chromatography-olfactometry- mass spectrometry
LRI
linear retention indices
AEDA
aroma extract dilution analysis
DHDA
dynamic headspace dilution analysis
STD
standard deviation
TDSA
thermal desorption system autosampler
CIS
cold injection system
PCA
principal component analysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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  • Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds are available from are available from the vendor described in this manuscript.

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, X.-S.; Liu, J.-B.; Yang, Z.-M.; Song, H.-L.; Liu, Y.; Zou, T.-T. Aroma-Active Compounds in Jinhua Ham Produced With Different Fermentation Periods. Molecules 2014, 19, 19097-19113. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191119097

AMA Style

Liu X-S, Liu J-B, Yang Z-M, Song H-L, Liu Y, Zou T-T. Aroma-Active Compounds in Jinhua Ham Produced With Different Fermentation Periods. Molecules. 2014; 19(11):19097-19113. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191119097

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Xiao-Sheng, Jian-Bin Liu, Zheng-Mao Yang, Huan-Lu Song, Ye Liu, and Ting-Ting Zou. 2014. "Aroma-Active Compounds in Jinhua Ham Produced With Different Fermentation Periods" Molecules 19, no. 11: 19097-19113. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191119097

APA Style

Liu, X. -S., Liu, J. -B., Yang, Z. -M., Song, H. -L., Liu, Y., & Zou, T. -T. (2014). Aroma-Active Compounds in Jinhua Ham Produced With Different Fermentation Periods. Molecules, 19(11), 19097-19113. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191119097

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