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Article

Characterization and Evaluation of Aroma Quality in Doubanjiang, a Chinese Traditional Fermented Red Pepper Paste, Using Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis and a Sensory Profile

1
Institute of Agro-products Processing Science and Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
2
Department of Food Engineering, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam 31116, Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2019, 24(17), 3107; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173107
Submission received: 17 July 2019 / Revised: 23 August 2019 / Accepted: 25 August 2019 / Published: 27 August 2019

Abstract

:
Doubanjiang, a Chinese traditional fermented red pepper paste, is eaten worldwide for its unique flavor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the aroma quality of doubanjiang using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). A total of 165 volatile compounds, belonging to 13 chemical classes, were identified. Esters and hydrocarbons were the predominant groups. Thirteen aroma-active compounds were detected by AEDA of SAFE and HS-SPME, and their odor activity values (OAVs) were calculated by dividing their concentration by their odor threshold in water. Among them, ethyl isovalerate, β-damascenone, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), and sotolone had the highest OAVs (>1000). In addition, sotolone, methional, β-damascenone, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, ethyl isovalerate, phenylethyl alcohol and linalool had high flavor dilution (FD) factors. Sotolone, β-damascenone and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine were identified for the first time in doubanjiang and played significant roles in its aroma quality.

1. Introduction

Doubanjiang is a traditional fermented red pepper paste with a Chinese protected geographical indication (PGI) that is produced with red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), broad bean (Vicia faba L.), wheat flour, and salt [1]. It has been appreciated as a uniquely flavored seasoning for several centuries in China [2,3] and has become popular worldwide [4,5]. In general, the traditional manufacturing process consists of three phases: (1) fermentation of broad beans with salt (12–14% w/w) to make doubanjiang-meju [6], (2) fermentation of red peppers (approx. 1–2 cm) with salt (14–16% w/w) to yield red pepper moromi, and (3) aged fermentation for more than six months in the natural environment of a mix of doubanjiang-meju with red pepper moromi at a ratio of 4:6 to improve flavor and taste characteristics. The average of annual production value of doubanjiang is $1.5 billion with the export value exceeding $100 million, according to local government statistics in 2016.
The volatile composition of doubanjiang is quite complex. Several studies on the identification and quantitation of volatile compounds in doubanjiang have been reported [3,7,8,9]. However, the key aroma-active compounds in doubanjiang are still controversial; in particular, the contribution of key odorants to the overall aroma remains unclear.
Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) is a reliable solvent technique for volatile extraction and could direct the isolation of aroma compounds from complex food matrices [10], whereas headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is a solvent-free technique for volatile extraction present in the sample headspace [11]. Both solvent-assisted and solvent-free extraction methods have been widely applied to the analysis of aroma compounds in many kinds of foods, such as doenjang [12], daqu [13], various sauce [14] and gochujang [15]. Additionally, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), and omission experiments have been used to investigate the key odorants extensively and successfully in many foods such as soy sauce [11,14], gochujang [15], and light aroma type Chinese liquor [16].
The aims of this study were to (1) profile the volatile compounds in doubanjiang using SAFE and HS-SMPE, coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), (2) identify the aroma-active compounds using AEDA and GC-O, and (3) evaluate the most odor-active compounds in doubanjiang. The results will provide a better understanding of the key aroma-active compounds in doubanjiang and could be beneficial in improving the flavor of doubanjiang in the industry.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Volatile Compounds Identified in Doubanjiang

Volatile compounds in doubanjiang were extracted using SAFE and HS-SPME and identified using GC-MS. A total of 168 volatile compounds belonging to 13 chemical classes were identified. As shown in Table 1, hydrocarbons and esters were the predominant groups, each containing 30 and 26 volatile compounds, respectively, followed by alcohols, ketones, and acids, with each group including 27, 19, and 13 volatile compounds, respectively. For the SF-A sample, the most abundant volatile group (>5% average relative areas) was alcohols (17.86%), followed by phenols (10.08%) and esters (10.02%), while for the XH-B and XH-C commercial samples, esters (9.41% and 15.04%, respectively) and alcohols (6.14% and 7.01%, respectively) were major components (Table 2). This difference might be due to the different manufacturing conditions, as the SF-A sample was produced by a different company than XH-B and XH-C.

2.2. Aroma-Active Compounds in Doubanjiang

Studies of the aroma-active compounds of doubanjiang are limited, despite its Chinese Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and as traditional fermented food. AEDA was performed for SAFE and HS-SPME. Table 3 shows the aroma-active compounds identified in doubanjiang by SAFE and HS-SPME. A total of 13 aroma-active compounds were detected, including eight by SAFE and eight by HS-SPME. Of these, five aroma-active compounds were verified by both SAFE and HS-SPME. Among them, the seasoning-like compound 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone (sotolone) and cooked potato-like compound 3-(methylthio) propanal (methional) were the most intense aroma-active compounds (log3FD = 6), followed by 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (bell pepper), and β-damascenone (fruit) (log3FD = 5), and phenylethyl alcohol (rose) (log3FD = 4) identified by SAFE. Ethyl 3-methylbutanoate (ethyl isovalerate) has the highest log2FD value (log2FD = 4), followed by limonene (fragrant), linalool (bergamot), β-damascenone (fruit), 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine(bell pepper), and 2-methoxyphenol (bacon) (log2FD = 4) identified by HS-SPME. This difference might be due to the extraction method [15]. Compared to SAFE, the selectivity of the fiber also leads to the profiling of different volatile compounds [17].
Sotolone has already been confirmed in previous studies as a key odor-active compound and significantly imparts caramel-like and seasoning-like notes in soy sauce [17,18,19]. Sotolone is a furan derivative compound generated by nonenzymatic pathways, which include an aldol condensation step to form the branched six-membered carbon skeleton [20]. Although two furanones, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (HDMF) and 4-hydroxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (HEMF) have been reported as the key aroma compounds in doubanjiang (also aka horse bean-chili-paste) [3], sotolone was the most intense aroma-active compound and identified for the first time in doubanjiang.
3-(Methylthio) propanal (methional), which imparts cooked potato-like aroma note, is identified as an important aroma-active compound for most paste and sauce products such as soy sauce [14], doubanjiang [3] and gochujang, a Korean fermented red pepper paste [15]. Methional could be formed by Strecker degradation of methionine [21].
β-Damascenone, exhibiting fruity and sweet notes, is an important odorant in modern perfumery and a major contribution to wine aromas [22]. β-Damascenone has a very low odor threshold in water (2 ng/L) (Table 4) and may be formed by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of certain plant-derived metabolites under heat treatments and low pH during the manufacturing process [23]. Moreover, synergistic phenomena have also been identified, for instance, reducing the orthonasal detection thresholds of linalool and raising the detection threshold of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in the presence of β-damascenone [22]. To our knowledge, this is the first time that β-Damascenone is identified in doubanjiang.
3-Isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine has been reported in bell and chili peppers, grapes and wines, and fermented red pepper food such as gochujang, a Korean fermented red pepper paste [15]. The odor threshold of IBMP has an extremely low value of 2 ng/L in water, contributing to a characteristic bell pepper, green pepper and gochujang-like aroma [15]. l-Leucine was speculated to be a precursor in regulating IBMP biosynthesis in grape berry [24]. 3-Isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine was also identified for the first time in doubanjiang to our knowledge.
Sotolone, β-damascenone and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine were identified for the first time in doubanjiang and validated by the mass spectrum, RI (DB-wax and/or DB-5ms columns), aroma properties and authentic compounds.

2.3. Quantitation of the Key Odorants and Calculation of Odor Activity Values (OAVs)

Table 4 lists the calculated mean values for each volatile compound in doubanjiang. Among these odorants, 3-methylbutanoic acid had the highest concentration in doubanjiang (144.8 μg/kg), followed by phenylethyl alcohol (129.2 μg/kg), acetic acid (103.2 μg/kg), ethyl isovalerate (62.3 μg/kg), limonene (32.4 μg/kg), linalool (33.2 μg/kg), methional (32 μg/kg) and 2-methoxyphenol (27.2 μg/kg). Odor activity values (OAVs) were used to estimate the contribution of individual aroma compounds to the overall flavor of doubanjiang. As shown in Table 4, the concentrations of the selected key aroma volatiles exceeded their estimated odor threshold, suggesting that they may be responsible for the doubanjiang aroma. Ethyl 3-methylbutanoate showed the highest OAV, exceeding its threshold (0.01 μg/L in water) by a factor of 6229, followed by β-damascenone, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine and sotolone, with OAVs of 3345, 2490 and 1602, respectively. These results correlated well with the conclusion that ethyl 3-methylbutanoate had a high OAV in doubanjiang [3]. β-Damascenone was the key odorant in red wine and Chinese liquor, with a high OAV, and significantly imparted the overall aroma of Chinese liquor [16]; sotolone showed the highest OAVs in soy sauce [19].

2.4. The effects of Selected Key Odorants on the Sensory Profiles of Doubanjiang

Sensory evaluation tests were used to access the effect of selected key odorants on the overall aroma of doubanjiang. The effects of spiking certain volatiles alone on flavor descriptors are shown in Table 5. Significant difference was observed compared with the unspiked control, which further confirmed that these key active-aromas played an important role in the flavor of doubanjiang. Doubanjiang has a quite complex food matrix, from which flavor release not only depends on the nature of the aroma compounds but also the interaction between sensory attributes of aroma compounds or with the nonvolatile constituents of the food matrix. For example, spiking acetic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid and methional separately from doubanjiang did not impart the overall aroma, although methional has a relatively high OAV (160), whereas adding sotolone to doubanjiang not only imparted a caramel-like aroma but also increased the fruity aroma.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Doubanjiang Samples

Three commercial doubanjiang samples (labeled as SF-A, XH-B, and XH-C), manufactured by two doubanjiang companies located in Pixian city (Sichuan province, China-Latitude 30.79, Longitude 103.89), were used in this study. SF-A was produced in 2015 (aged 3 years), while XH-B and XH-C were produced by the same company in 2014 (aged 2 and 5 years, respectively). All three samples were collected from the company directly. The label on these products indicated that they contained ca. 47.8% red pepper, 26.1% broad beans, 5% wheat flour, and 16.7% salt.

3.2. Chemicals

Authentic standards, including acetic acid, phenylacetaldehyde, β-damascenone, dimethyl disulfide, decanal, 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, ethyl benzoate, ethyl lactate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl phenylacetate, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyphenol, limonene, linalool, methional, methyl salicylate, 3-methylbutanal, nonanal, phenylethyl alcohol, sotolone, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), 3-methylbutanoic acid and isoamyl acetate were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, USA) or Sigma-Aldrich China Co. (Shanghai, China).

3.3. Extraction of Volatile Components from Doubanjiang

3.3.1. Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation (SAFE)

Five gram of each doubanjiang sample was mixed with 100 mL double distilled water (ddH2O), shaken at 250 rpm for 1.5 h, and filtered through a filter paper (Whatman, United Kingdom) under vacuum using a Büchner funnel. Volatiles from the total filtration containing internal standard (3-heptanol, 48.585 μg) were isolated using a solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) unit (ACE Glass Inc., Vineland, NJ, USA) at 25 °C for 1.5 h under vacuum (10 −6 torr), according to the Seo et al. [25] method with some modifications. After distillation, the extract was obtained by sequential extraction with dichloromethane solvent (15 mL, 15 mL, and 20 mL) at 250 rpm for 1 h. After extraction, removal of the water was carried out by freezing at −20 °C overnight and followed by dehydrating over anhydrous sodium sulfate. A gentle N2 stream method was used to concentrate the extract to 200 μL. Extractions were performed in duplicate.

3.3.2. Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME)

The volatile constituents of doubanjiang were extracted using two fibers, namely 75 μm carboxen/PDMS (CAR/PDMS) and 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS (Supelco Co., Bellefonte, PA, USA) with ca. 80% and 60% global perception similarity to doubanjiang, respectively, according to the direct GC-O method [15,17]. Briefly, 5.0 g of doubanjiang sample mixed with 10 mL of deodorized distilled water (DDW) was placed into a 20-mL vial, and balanced at 40 °C for 30 min in a water bath under stirring. The SPME fiber was then inserted into the vial and exposed to the headspace to extract volatiles at 40 °C for 30 min. After extraction, the fiber was inserted into the injection port of gas chromatograph (GC) for thermal desorption with the same parameters described by our previous method [26]. Extractions were performed in triplicate.

3.4. GC-MS and GC-O Analysis

3.4.1. GC-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Conditions

An Agilent 6890N gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS 5973N, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) was used in this study. First, one μL of SAFE extracts or SPME fiber extracts was injected in splitless mode onto both DB-wax column (60 m length, 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness, J&W Scientific, Folsom, CA, USA) and DB-5ms column (60 length, 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness, J&W Scientific, Folsom, CA, USA), respectively. Helium was used as the carrier gas with flow rate of 1 mL/min. The temperature program parameters of mass spectrometer were the same as our newly published paper [26].

3.4.2. Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry (GC-O)

The GC-olfactometry (GC-O) system was composed of a Varian 3800 GC (Varian Instrument Group, Walnut Creek, CA) coupled to a sniffing port (ODO II, SGE International, Ringwood, Australia) and a flame ionization detector (FID). Analytical conditions were performed following our published paper [27]. In brief, the conditions of volatile compounds extracted by both SAFE and HS-SPME were the same as GC-MS. Two different columns, namely, DB-wax column (30 m length, 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness, J&W Scientific, Folsom, CA, USA) and DB-5ms column (30 length, 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness, J&W Scientific, Folsom, CA, USA),respectively, were used for GC-O. Each SPME fiber was injected into the GC injector for 10 min. The GC conditions were the same as GC-MS: oven temperature program was from 40 °C to 200 °C at a rate of 5 °C/min with initial 5 min and final 10 min, respectively. The flow rate of the carrier gas helium was 1.4 mL/min. Injector and detector temperatures were 280 °C and 250 °C, respectively. GC-O was performed in triplicate.
To determine the most aroma-active components, aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) was carried out by serially diluting (1:3) the SAFE extracts using the same diluent. The flavor dilution (FD) factor is determined as the highest dilution where a volatile odor can still be perceived [27]. The HS-SPME extracts were stepwise diluted (10 mL DDW mixed with 5 g, 2.5 g, 1.25 g and 0.625 g of doubanjaing, respectively, were put into a 20-mL vial) and then balanced at 40 °C for 30 min. The sample dilution (SD) factor is determined as the highest sample dilution where an odorous substance can be perceived [28].

3.5. Compound Identification, Quantitation of the Key Odorants and Calculation of Odor Activity Values (OAVs)

Compounds were identified based on a comparison of the WILEY 7.0 mass spectral library, retention indices (RIs) and authentic standard compounds [26]. The retention indice (RI) values were calculated on DB-wax and DB-5ms columns using C10–C22 and C8–C20 as the external reference, respectively.
The selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode was used to quantitate the concentration of a compound in the SAFE concentrate mentioned above with 8-point external standard curves. The identified key aroma compounds were confirmed by authentic chemicals, and the standard curve for individual aroma compounds was obtained by calculating the response factor of known concentrations on GC-MS. The unit of concentration in the SAFE concentrate (μg/L) was converted to micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg, doubanjiang) according to the weight of sample used. For each compound, the OAVs were calculated by dividing the compound concentration in the samples by the mean values of its estimated odor threshold. Relative quantification measurement was also performed for all the volatile compounds, using 3-heptanol as the internal standard.

3.6. Sensory Evaluation

To access the effects of selected key aroma-active compounds on the overall aroma of doubanjiang, sensory evaluation was performed according to a previous method [11] by eight panelists (4 females, 4 males, aged 22–38) recruited from the Institute of Agro-products Processing Science and Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Briefly, a total of 8 attributes containing ethanol (alcohols), acetic acid (sour), methional (cooked potato), 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol (burnt), phenylacetaldehyde (sweet), soy sauce (caramel-like), and ethyl acetate (fruity) [11,29] were used to characterize the sensory properties of the doubanjiang samples. The doubanjiang was spiked with 2–3 times concentration of certain key aroma-active compounds, and the panelists were asked to evaluate the odor intensity compared to unspiked samples at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C) using a line scale of 0–9, in which 0 was the lowest intensity without perception and 9 was the highest intensity. All the panelists had experience in the theory and practical application of doubanjiang, and could differentiate differences in doubanjiang’s flavor.

3.7. Statistical Analysis

Univariate statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) was used to determine significance between spiked and unspiked individual key aroma-active compounds using the statistical software OriginPro 8 (OriginLab Corporation, Northampton, MA, USA).

4. Conclusions

In summary, a total of 165 volatile compounds were identified using SAFE and/or HS-SPME. Thirteen most important odorants were detected, including eight by SAFE-GC-O and eight by HS-SPME-GC-O; of these, five aroma-active compounds were identified by both methods. Sotolone, β-damascenone and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, contributing to caramel-like, fruity, and red pepper aromas, respectively, were identified for the first time in doubanjiang. These compounds played key roles in the aroma quality of doubanjiang. In addition, methional, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, phenylethyl alcohol, 2-methoxyphenol, 3-methylbutanal, and phenylacetaldehyde also played important roles in the aroma quality of doubanjiang. These results will be useful to improve the aroma quality of this traditional food.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary File 1

Author Contributions

Formal analysis, Z.L., L.D., C.Z; investigation, Z.L., J.J., S.Y.K.; writing-original draft preparation, Z.L. and H.-H.B.; writing-review and editing, Z.L. and H.-H.B.; supervision, H.-H.B.

Funding

This work was funded by the Science and technology department of Sichuan province (2019YFN0013), Young Scientist Exchange Program between The Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China (2015), Youth Fund of Sichuan Province (2016JQ0048).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds are not available from the authors.
Table 1. Volatile flavor compounds identified in doubanjiang.
Table 1. Volatile flavor compounds identified in doubanjiang.
No.RI aCompounds bOdor Description cIdentification d
DB-5msDB-wax
Esters (26)e
1<800<1000ethyl acetate 3balsamic, pineapple, sweetMS, RI
28161351ethyl lactate 1butter, floral, sweetMS, RI, Std, O
38501075ethyl 3-methylbutanoate 3apple, pineapple, sweetMS, RI, Std, O
48721134isoamyl acetate 2apple, banana, sweetMS, RI, Std, O
510991520ethyl sorbate 3apple, honeyMS, RI
611761688ethyl benzoate 3camomile, flower, fruitMS, RI, Std, O
712011804methyl salicylate 1caramel, peppermintMS, RI, Std, O
81240-ethyl phenylacetate 2floral, rose, sweetMS, RI
91242-linalyl acetate 2fruit, resinous, sweetMS, RI
101247-ethyl phenylacetate 1floral, rose, sweetMS, RI, Std, O
1112521837phenethyl acetate 3floral, rose, tobaccoMS, RI
121349-neryl acetate 2floral, fruit, sweetMS, RI
131368-geranyl acetate 2lavender, rose, sweetMS, RI
141522-methyl laurate 1coconut, fatMS, RI
1515911849ethyl laurate 1floral, fruit, leaf, nutMS, RI
161651-methyl hydrojasmonate 1-MS, RI
1717202016methyl myristate 1fat, honey, oil, orrisMS, RI
181789-ethyl myristate 1ether, pleasant, soapMS, RI
1918182038isopropyl myristate 1cherry, cinnamon, waxyMS, RI
2018502153ethyl pentadecanoate 1-MS, RI
211989>2200ethyl palmitate 1WaxMS, RI
22 <1000isopropenyl acetate 2-MS, RI
23->2200ethyl 9-hexadecenoate 1-MS, RI
24->2200ethyl oleate 1-MS, RI
25->2200methyl palmitate 1-MS, RI
26->2200methyl linoleate 1-MS, RI
Hydrocarbons (30)
27<8001045toluene 1glue, paint, solventMS, RI
2810291193limonene 3balsamic, fragrant, fruitMS, RI, Std, O
291085-terpinolene 2pine, plastic, sweetMS, RI
3011991772naphthalene 1mothball, tarMS, RI
311237-4-methylcyclopentene 2-MS, RI
321363-2-methyltridecane 3-MS, RI
331375-ylangene 2fruitMS, RI
341381-copaene 2spice, woodMS, RI
351386-longicyclene 2-MS, RI
361391-β-elemen 2-MS, RI
371434-zingiberene 2fresh, mint, sharp, spiceMS, RI
381447-thujopsene 2-MS, RI
391463-2-methyltetradecane 1-MS, RI
401471-α-himachalene 3-MS, RI
411475-cyclododecane 1-MS, RI
421479-α-selinene 2woodMS, RI
431498-eremophilene 2woodMS, RI
4415011723α-muurolene 1woodMS, RI
4515091736valencene 1citrus, green, oil, woodMS, RI
461519-γ-cadinene 2woodMS, RI
471526-calamenene 2clove, floral, herb, spiceMS, RI
481548-α-calacorene 2woodMS, RI
491564-2-methylpentadecane 3-MS, RI
501612>2200fluorene 1-MS, RI
511660-2-methylhexadecane 1-MS, RI
521677-cadalene 2-MS, RI
531700-heptadecane 1alkane, biting, pungentMS, RI
541731-guaiazulene 1-MS, RI
55-1268styrene 1balsamic, rubber, solventMS, RI
56-1743β-selinene 3herbMS, RI
Alcohols (27)
57<80015832,3-butanediol 3-MS, RI
58<80012093-methyl-1-butanol 3banana, cocoa, floralMS, RI
598721356hexanol 3Green, grassy, fatty, leafyMS, RI
6090714102-butoxyethanol 1-MS, RI
6197114581-heptanol 1nuttyMS, RI
62102914922-ethyl-1-hexanol 3citrus, green, oil, roseMS, RI
6310421896benzyl alcohol 3floral, roasted breadMS, RI
6411011551linalool 3bergamot, lavender, roseMS, RI, Std, O
6511201933phenylethyl alcohol 3fruit, rose, sweet appleMS, RI, Std, O
6611831616terpinen-4-ol 3earth, must, woodMS, RI
6712041709α-terpineol 1fresh, mint, oil, sweetMS, RI
681249-citronellol 1citrus, green, roseMS, RI
69126020042-phenylbutane-1-ol 1-MS, RI
7015652043nerolidol 1fir, linoleum, pineMS, RI
711624-cedrol 2sweetMS, RI
72-10972-methyl-1-propanol 2apple, cocoa, fusel, maltMS, RI
73-1253pentanol 1unpleasantMS, RI
74-13164-methyl-1-pentanol 3-MS, RI
75-13893-hexen-1-ol 3bell pepper, grass, herbMS, RI
76-1391cis-3-hexen-1-ol 2bell pepper, grass, herbMS, RI
77-13953-octanol 3citrus, mushroom, oilMS, RI
78-14666-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol 1-MS, RI
79-1561octanol 1Orange peelMS, RI
80-1621cyclooctyl alcohol 1-MS, RI
81-1650levomenthol 1-MS, RI
82-20272-hepten-4-ol 1-MS, RI
83-21632-phenoxy-ethanol 1pleasantMS, RI
Ketones (19)
84<800-acetoin 3green pepper, rancidMS, RI
8593714572-cyclohexen-1-one 1solvent, unpleasantMS, RI
86115117164-oxoisophorone 1citrus, honey, mustMS, RI
871226-eucarvone 2-MS, RI
881246-D-carvone 2mintyMS, RI
8913911803β-damascenone 3fruit, grape, sweet, floralMS, RI, Std, O
901431-α-ionone 1floral, violet, woodMS, RI
9114411868geranyl acetone 3green, hay, magnoliaMS, RI
9214881961β-ionone 1floral, raspberry, seaweedMS, RI
931551>2200dihydroactinidiolide 1-MS, RI
941715-blumenol C 1-MS, RI
951837-hexahydrofarnesyl acetone 3-MS, RI
96-12623-octanone 1butter, herb, mold, resinMS, RI
97-1306cyclohexanone 1bitter, peppermintMS, RI
98-13141-hydroxy-2-propanone 1mushroomMS, RI
99-13476-methyl-5-heptene-2-one 1mushroom, pepper, rubberMS, RI
100-1418thujone 2-MS, RI
101-16106-methylhepta-3,5-dien-2-one 1-MS, RI
102-18192-tridecanone 1harsh, herb, oil, spiceMS, RI
Acids (13)
103-1459acetic acid 2pungent, sour, vinegarMS, RI, Std, O
104-15762-methylpropanoic acid 2burnt, cheese, rancidMS, RI
105-1637butanoic acid 2butter, cheese, rancidMS, RI
106-16783-methylbutanoic acid 2cheese, rancid, sweatMS, RI, Std, O
107-18114-methylpentanoic acid 1floral, sour, sweatMS, RI
108-1854hexanoic acid 1acid, pungent, rancidMS, RI
109111319562-ethylhexanoic acid 1soapyMS, RI
110-1960heptanoic acid 1rancid, sour, sweatMS, RI
111-2064octanoic acid 1acid, fat, rancid, sweatMS, RI
112-2170nonanoic acid 1fat, green, sourMS, RI
113->2200benzoic acid 2pungent, sour, urineMS, RI
114->2200decanoic acid 1dust, fat, rancid, sweatMS, RI
115->2200lauric acid 1fat, fruit, metal, waxMS, RI
Nitrogen-containing compounds (10)
11688612582,6-dimethylpyridine 1green, coffee, nuttyMS, RI
11791513452,6-dimethylpyrazine 2cocoa, coffee, roasted nutMS, RI
118106819962-acetylpyrrole 1herbal, nutty, anisic,MS, RI
1191087-tetramethylpyrazine 1cocoa, coffee, roastMS, RI
120-10451-hexanamine 2-MS, RI
121-1277methylpyrazine 1cocoa, popcorn, roastedMS, RI
122-13962-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine 1fruit, roast, sweetMS, RI
123-1421N,N-dimethylacetamide 1amine, burnt, oilMS, RI
124-15103-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine 3bell pepper, green pepperMS, RI, Std, O
125-1700N-methylpyrrolidinone 1-MS, RI
Phenols (8)
126109118832-methoxyphenol 3bacon, medicine, phenolMS, RI, Std, O
127116421934-ethylphenol 3medicine, phenol, stableMS, RI
1281197-estragole 2anise, licoriceMS, RI
129128020504-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol 3medicine, phenol, smokeMS, RI, Std, O
13012941849anethole 3aniseMS, RI
131-19794-methylguaiacol 1clove, phenol, smokeMS, RI
132-2023phenol 2medicine, phenol, spiceMS, RI
133-21883-allyl-6-methoxyphenol 1-MS, RI
Aldehydes (8)
134<800<10003-methylbutanal 2cocoa, malt, pungentMS, RI, Std, O
1351364-4-methyl-2-phenyl-2-pentenal 2cocoaMS, RI
13610501668phenylacetaldehyde 3berry, honey, nut, pungentMS, RI, Std, O
13711061403nonanal 1citrus, paint, pungentMS, RI, Std, O
138149320985-methyl-2-phenyl-2-hexenal 3cocoaMS, RI
139-1089hexanal 1green, beanyMS, RI
140-1508decanal 1floral, fried, orange peelMS, RI, Std, O
141-1547benzaldehyde 3burnt sugar, roasted pepperMS, RI
Lactones (7)
1429151660γ-butyrolactone 3caramel, fruit, roasted nutMS, RI
1439561638γ-valerolactone 1herb, sweetMS, RI
144963-tetrahydro-2-pyranone 1sweetMS, RI
1451046-pantolactone 1burnt, roasted breadMS, RI
14613672058γ-nonalactone 1apricot, cocoa, coconutMS, RI
1471541-dihydroactinolide 2-MS, RI
148-1698lavender lactone 1-MS, RI
Furans (6)
1498581672furfuryl alcohol 3burnt, caramel, cookedMS, RI, Std, O
15096515935-methylfurfural 1caramel, roasted garlic, spiceMS, RI
1511070-cis-linalool oxide 2earth, flower, nut, rootMS, RI
15211692186sotolone 3savory, spice, soy sauceMS, RI, Std, O
153-1484furfural 2baked potatoes, breadMS, RI
154-15232-acetylfuran 1balsamic, cocoa, coffeeMS, RI
Sulfur-containing compounds (5)
1559111473methional 1cooked potato, soyMS, RI, Std, O
1569861732methionol 1cooked potato, earth, soyMS, RI
1571529-2,5-bis(2-methylpropyl)thiophene 1-MS, RI
158-1083dimethyl disulfide 2garlic, onion, putridMS, RI, Std, O
159-1403dimethyl trisulfide 2onion, sulfur, sweatMS, RI
Ethers (5)
160100416312-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol 1-MS, RI
1611320-Theaspirane (A or B) 2honeyMS, RI
162-12071,8-cineole 2eucalyptol, mint, sweetMS, RI
163-1581methyl carbitol 1-MS, RI
164-1167cyclohexene epoxide 1-MS, RI
Miscellaneous compounds (1)
1651571-p-chloroaniline 1-MS, RI
a Retention indices (RI) were determined on DB-5ms and DB-wax column with C8–C20 and C10–C22 as external reference, respectively. “-” Not determined. b Superscript numbers “1” and “2” indicates that the corresponding volatile compound is identified by SAFE and HS-SPME, respectively, “3” means that the corresponding volatile compound is identified by both methods. c Odor descriptions are based on VCF database (http://www.vcf-online.nl/VcfHome.cfm). “-” means not reported. d MS, compounds identified by MS spectra; RI, compounds identified by comparison with the retention indices (RIs) on DB-5ms and/or DB-wax column in the NIST Chemistry WebBook (http://webbook.nist.gov/); Std, confirmed by authentic compound. O, compounds identified by the odor confirmation. e Numbers in each group given in parentheses indicate the number of identified compounds.
Table 2. Relative quantification analysis of chemical groups after SAFE in three doubanjiang samples.
Table 2. Relative quantification analysis of chemical groups after SAFE in three doubanjiang samples.
GroupSF-AXH-BXH-C
esters10.02 ± 2.87 a9.41 ± 2.7315.04 ± 2.56
hydrocarbons4.04 ± 0.361.77 ± 0.422.56 ± 0.12
alcohols17.86 ± 2.546.14 ± 1.247.01 ± 0.51
ketones4.32 ± 0.111.97 ± 0.252.63 ± 0.50
Acids4.43 ± 0.952.35 ± 1.163.14 ± 1.29
nitrogen-containing compounds1.07 ± 0.080.82 ± 0.140.83 ± 0.03
phenols10.08 ± 0.533.79 ± 0.343.75 ± 0.33
aldehydes2.87 ± 0.411.16 ± 0.281.56 ± 0.26
lactones2.35 ± 0.271.21 ± 0.121.28 ± 0.15
furans1.13 ± 0.080.55 ± 0.180.66 ± 0.13
sulfur-containing compounds0.71 ± 0.020.58 ± 0.160.87 ± 0.08
ethers0.71 ± 0.040.26 ± 0.030.11 ± 0.02
Miscellaneous compounds0.33 ± 0.050.15 ± 0.120.30 ± 0.05
a The relative areas of each chemical group compared their total peak areas to that of 3-heptanol (48.585 μg), an internal standard compound, were used as relative quantification analysis. Mean ± standard deviation.
Table 3. Aroma-active compounds detected in doubanjiang by SAFE and HS-SPME-AEDA.
Table 3. Aroma-active compounds detected in doubanjiang by SAFE and HS-SPME-AEDA.
No.RICompoundsLog3FD a (SAFE)Log2SD b (SPME)
DB-5msDB-wax
38501075ethyl 3-methylbutanoate34
2810291193limonene-3
6411011551linalool33
6511201933phenylethyl alcohol4-
8913911803β-damascenone53
103-1459acetic acid-2
106-16783-methylbutanoic acid1-
124-15103-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine53
126109118832-methoxyphenol-3
134<800<10003-methylbutanal-1
13610501668phenylacetaldehyde2-
15211692186sotolone6-
1559111473methional63
a FD: Flavor dilution factor determined on DB-5ms and DB-wax column. b SD: Sample dilution factor determined on DB-5ms and DB-wax column.
Table 4. Characteristic ion, concentrations, threshold, and odor activity values (OAVs) of the key aroma compounds in doubanjiang after solvent assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE).
Table 4. Characteristic ion, concentrations, threshold, and odor activity values (OAVs) of the key aroma compounds in doubanjiang after solvent assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE).
No.CompoundsCharacteristic Ion (m/z) aConcentrations (μg/kg)Odor Threshold (μg/L in Water) bOAV c
3ethyl 3-methylbutanoate88,57,8562.29 ± 2.250.016229
28limonene68,93,6732.36 ± 1.812000.16
64linalool71,93,5533.2 ± 1.42281.18
65phenylethyl alcohol91,92,122129.22 ± 3.61564.20.23
89β-damascenone69,1216.69 ± 0.320.0023345
103acetic acid43,45,60103.2 ± 2.75224.69
1063-methylbutanoic acid60,43,87144.75 ± 4.65702.07
1243-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine124,1514.98 ± 0.320.0022490
1262-methoxyphenol109,124,8127.24 ± 1.2539.08
1343-methylbutanal44,581.13 ± 0.081.11.03
136phenylacetaldehyde91,92,1206.64 ± 0.4341.66
152sotolone83,12816.02 ± 1.090.011602
155methional48,76,10432.0 ± 1.070.2160
a The first qualify ion was selected as a quantifying ion in quantitative analysis, which is based on 8-point external standard curves in the SAFE. b Odor threshold was taken from Volatile Compounds in Food (VCF) database http://www.vcf-online.nl/OFTVCompoundSearch.cfm. Odor thresholds were determined in water. c OAV value = Average   concentrations   ( μ g / kg )   Odor   threshold   ( μ g / L   in   water ) .
Table 5. Effects of key aroma-active compounds on doubanjiang sensory attributes.
Table 5. Effects of key aroma-active compounds on doubanjiang sensory attributes.
No.CompoundsEffects
3ethyl 3-methylbutanoatesweet **, fruity *
28limonenefruity *
64linaloolfruity **, sweet **
65phenylethyl alcoholfruity **, sweet **
89β-damascenonefruity ***, sweet ***
103acetic acid-
1063-methylbutanoic acid-
1243-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazineburnt ***, red pepper ***, caramel-like **
1262-methoxyphenolcaramel-like **, burnt *
1343-methylbutanalfruity *
136phenylacetaldehydefruity *, sweet **
152sotolonecaramel-like ***, fruity **
155methional-
“–” means no significant difference. ***, at p < 0.001 level. **, at p < 0.01 level. *, at p < 0.05 level.

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MDPI and ACS Style

Li, Z.; Dong, L.; Jeon, J.; Kwon, S.Y.; Zhao, C.; Baek, H.-H. Characterization and Evaluation of Aroma Quality in Doubanjiang, a Chinese Traditional Fermented Red Pepper Paste, Using Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis and a Sensory Profile. Molecules 2019, 24, 3107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173107

AMA Style

Li Z, Dong L, Jeon J, Kwon SY, Zhao C, Baek H-H. Characterization and Evaluation of Aroma Quality in Doubanjiang, a Chinese Traditional Fermented Red Pepper Paste, Using Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis and a Sensory Profile. Molecules. 2019; 24(17):3107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173107

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Zhihua, Ling Dong, Jin Jeon, So Young Kwon, Chi Zhao, and Hyung-Hee Baek. 2019. "Characterization and Evaluation of Aroma Quality in Doubanjiang, a Chinese Traditional Fermented Red Pepper Paste, Using Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis and a Sensory Profile" Molecules 24, no. 17: 3107. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173107

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