Effect of Rosemary and Clove Essential Oils on Quality and Flavor Compounds of Fried Korean Native Chicken Thigh Meat

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidative effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and clove (Syzgyium aromaticum L.) essential oils on fried Korean native thigh meat, including their impact on processed characteristics and flavor compounds. Clove essential oil showed higher DPPH scavenging activity, FRAP and total phenol content compared to rosemary essential oil (P<0.05). The treatments with the addition of 0.005% and 0.01% rosemary (0.005RB and 0.01RB) and clove (0.005CB and 0.01CB) essential oils to the batter weight compared to control that did not include essential oils in batter. The addition of rosemary and clove essential oils to fried Korean native chicken thigh meat did not significant affect proximate composition, pH, TBARS, sensory characteristics. Except for 0.005CB, treatments adding essential oils decreased cooking loss (P<0.05) and 0.005CB showed significantly higher pick-up value than control. Addition of clove essential oil in fried Korean native chicken thigh meat resulted in higher levels of arachidonic acid compared to control (P<0.05). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis showed that addition of rosemary essential oil might mask its own VOCs, while clove essential oil addition reduced some pyrazine compounds. Although addition of rosemary and clove essential oil did not have significant sensory characteristics on fried Korean native chicken thigh meat, instrumental analysis revealed changes in the compounds that influenced flavor. Further studies are required to evaluate the stability of flavor and sensory characteristics of fried Korean native chicken thigh meat with added essential oils during storage.