Antioxidant and Bacteriostatic Effects of the Addition of Extract of Quillay Polyphenols (Quillaja saponaria) in the Marinade of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

The nutritional and sensorial characteristics of chicken meat can be affected by oxidative rancidity, process of oxidation of lipids in the meat that constitutes one of the main forms of food deterioration. This problem may be prevented or reduced by adding antioxidants to the meat during the process of marination. In the present study, the addition of a polyphenol-rich quillay extract (QLPerm (R)) at 5 levels (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20%) to the marinade of chicken meat was evaluated. The marinated meat was stored under refrigeration (6 degrees C) for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. Basal and induced lipid oxidation was evaluated by TBARS analysis. Microbiological quality was assessed by total coliforms and mesophillic aerobe counts. The application of this natural antioxidant reduced, in some cases, meat lipidic oxidation, improved its microbiological quality, and did not leave any perceivable residues as analyzed by a sensorial evaluation panel.