Formic Acid Research Articles

Determination of the extremolyte ectoine in plasma and a pharmacokinetic study in rats by a validated and BAGI-evaluated UPLC-MS/MS method

Ectoine (ECT) has recently gained considerable interest in the healthcare sector due to its promising therapeutic benefits in a variety of human disorders. This research aimed to quantify the ECT plasma level in rats by creating and optimizing a sensitive and validated UPLC-MS/MS method. Prior to analysis, ECT extraction from the plasma samples was conducted via a protein precipitation procedure, using hydroxyectoine as an internal standard (IS). A 1.7 μm UPLC C8 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm) was selected for the chromatographic separation, using a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to detect ECT in the positive ion mode. To determine the specific precursor and the product ions of ECT, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) methods were carried out. The selected ion pair of ECT was 143.1 > 97 and 159.1 > 113.13 for the IS. The ECT’s linearity range in rat plasma was found to be 1-1000 ng/mL, with a recovery rate of 96.48–97.37%. Consistent with FDA guidelines for bio-analytical method validation, the suggested method was validated. The method was efficiently employed to quantify the studied drug in spiked rat plasma with good accuracy and precision with no significant matrix effects. Furthermore, it was effectively used to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of ECT in rats after a single oral dose of 30 mg/kg.

Rational Design of Formate Dehydrogenase for Enhanced Thermal Stability and Catalytic Activity in Bioelectrocatalysis.

Formate dehydrogenase can be utilized as a biocatalyst in the bioelectrocatalysis of converting CO2 into formic acid. However, its industrial application has been hindered by limited thermal stability. This study successfully obtained a mutant (D533S/E684I) with enhanced thermal stability and catalytic activity through the rational design of flexible regions. The mutant exhibited a half-life (t1/2) 1.5 times longer than the wild type (WT) at 35 °C, along with a specific enzyme activity 7.46 times higher than that of the WT. Additionally, the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km value) of the mutant toward the substrate was 2.72 s-1·mM-1, representing a 19.4-fold increase compared to the WT (0.14 s-1·mM-1). Formic acid production reached 53.4 mM through bioelectrocatalysis after 10 h, utilizing the mutant as the biocatalyst. Molecular dynamics simulations and structural analysis were employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind the enhanced thermal stability and activity. The displacement of a highly flexible region in the mutant may counteract the stability-activity trade-off. This study proposed a method for improving both thermal stability and activity in enzyme evolution.

Pd nanoparticles on DUT-67-PZDC-derived N-doped carbon for efficient H2 generation from formic acid dehydrogenation

It is important to develop heterogeneous catalysts with high efficiency and stability to catalyze formic acid (FA, HCOOH) dehydrogenation. Herein, through pyrolysis of DUT-67-PZDC and etching in a hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution, the HF-etched N-doped carbon (HNDC) carrier was obtained. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs), with an average particle size of 3.0 nm, were prepared on the HNDC support using a simple chemical co-reduction method. The optimized Pd/HNDC catalyst demonstrates excellent catalytic activity, the initial turnover frequency (TOF) value is 6001 h−1 at 50 °C with the incorporation of sodium formate (SF) as an additive, and the FA conversion and hydrogen (H2) selectivity could be up to 100%, which is comparable to the majority of MOF-derived heterogeneous catalysts published to date. Additionally, the Pd/HNDC can maintain good stability in five consecutive FA dehydrogenation runs with only a slight decrease. Such remarkable catalytic performance of Pd/HNDC is mainly ascribed to the unique structure of HNDC support with high surface area and hierarchical pore characteristic, the strong synergistic interaction between Pd NPs and the N sites on HNDC, as well as the ultrasmall size and high dispersion of Pd NPs as the catalytic active site. This work offers an efficient method for assembling highly active catalysts for FA dehydrogenation.

Effective Screening of Metal Dopants for In2O3 Catalyst to Tune Catalytic Performance of CO2 Hydrogenation to Formic Acid

The metal doping is an effective strategy to adjust catalytic performance for indium oxide catalyst in CO2 hydrogenation. In current work, a series dopant, Co, Fe, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru, are selected and examined in CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid by DFT based microkinetic simulation. It is found that substitutional doping is local effect which mainly promotes the reactivity of adjacent oxygen atoms. The calculations of both CO2 adsorption and hydrogen molecule dissociation certify the positive effects induced by doping, and the adsorption energy of CO2 has a linear relation with the transferred charges for all investigated catalysts which helps to explain the C‐O bond activation mechanism. Two pathways, Formate and Carboxyl, are investigated under same footing. It is noted that doping significantly reduces the hydrogenation barriers on two pathways compared with undoped surfaces. Moreover, the calculated TOF of formic acid formation is greatly increased on doped surfaces and Pt, Pd, Ru are identified as the most active dopants. In the end, it is concluded that reaction obeys Carboxyl mechanism and a valid descriptor of trans‐HCOOH* and H* formation energy is proposed for the screening of effective dopants.

Evaluation of protein extraction protocols for MALDI-TOF Biotyper analysis of mycobacteria

Infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria represent a significant global threat and medical concern. Therefore, accurate and reliable methods must be employed to identify mycobacteria rapidly. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a technique that compares the cellular protein profiles of unknown isolates with reference mass spectra in a database to identify microorganisms. However, the thick and waxy lipid layer, which is rich in mycolic acids and is present in mycobacterial cells, makes protein extraction challenging. To identify the optimal protocol for correctly identifying bacilli using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, this study compared four different cellular protein extraction methods. Four strains of M. bovis BCG were selected as representatives of slow-growing mycobacteria, while three strains of fast-growing mycobacteria were also included: M. peregrinum, M. smegmatis, and M. farcinogenes. The extraction method that proved most effective was the extraction of inactivated cells with chloroform and methanol, which partially delipidates the cells. These cells were then extracted with formic acid, as is standard practice for protein extraction. The advantage of this method is that it allows the parallel analysis of cellular lipids and proteins from a single sample. It is therefore important to optimize mycobacterial protein extraction for MALDI-TOF MS analysis in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Oxophilic Sn to promote glucose oxidation to formic acid in Ni nanoparticles.

The electrochemical glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) presents an opportunity to produce hydrogen and high-value chemical products. Herein, we investigate the effect of Sn in Ni nanoparticles for the GOR to formic acid (FA). Electrochemical results show that the maximum activity is related to the amount of Ni, as Ni sites are responsible for catalyzing GOR via the NiOOH/Ni(OH)2 pair. However, the GOR kinetics increases with the amount of Sn, associated with an enhancement of the OH- supply to the catalyst surface for Ni(OH)2 reoxidation to NiOOH. NiSn nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (NiSn/CNT) exhibit excellent current densities and direct GOR via C-C cleavage mechanism, obtaining FA with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 93% at 1.45 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. GOR selectivity is further studied by varying the applied potential, glucose concentration, reaction time, and temperature. FE toward FA production decreases due to formic overoxidation to carbonates at low glucose concentrations and high applied potentials, while acetic and lactic acids are obtained with high selectivity at high glucose concentrations and 55 °C. Density functional theory calculations show that the SnO2 facilitates the adsorption of glucose on the surface of Ni and promotes the formation of the catalytic active Ni3+ species.

Development of an infant colon simulating in vitro model, I-TIM-2, to study the effects of modulation strategies on the infant gut microbiome composition and function.

The early life stages are critical for the development of the gut microbiome. Variables such as antibiotics exposure, birth-mode via Cesarean section, and formula feeding are associated with disruptions in microbiome development and are related to adverse health effects later in life. Studying the effects of microbiome-modulating strategies in infants is challenged by appropriate ethical constraints. Therefore, we developed I-TIM-2, an infant in vitro colonic model based on the validated, computer-controlled, dynamic model of the colon, TIM-2. The system, consisting of four separate compartments, was inoculated with feces from four healthy, primarily breastfed infants, displaying distinctive microbiome profiles. For each infant's fecal sample, a 96-h experiment was performed, with two compartments receiving an infant diet adapted medium and two compartments additionally receiving five human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in physiological concentrations and proportions. Bacterial composition was determined by shotgun metagenomics and qPCR. Concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and HMOs were determined by LC-MS. Microbial diversity and high amounts of inoculum-derived species were preserved in the model throughout each experiment. Microbiome composition and SCFA concentrations were consistent with published data from infants. HMOs strongly modulated the microbiome composition by stimulating relative proportions of Bifidobacterium. This affected the metabolic output and resulted in an increased production of acetic and formic acid, characteristic of bifidobacterial HMO metabolism. In conclusion, these data demonstrate the development of a valid model to study the dynamics and modulations of the infant gut microbiome and metabolome.IMPORTANCEThe infant gut microbiome is intricately linked to the health of its host. This is partly mediated through the bacterial production of metabolites that interact with the host cells. Human milk shapes the establishment of the infant gut microbiome as it contains human milk sugars that select for primarily bifidobacteria. The establishment can be disrupted by modern interventions such as formula feeding. This can alter the microbiome composition and metabolite production profile, which can affect the host. In this article, we set up an infant in vitro colonic model to study microbiome interactions and functions. In this model, we investigated the effects of human milk sugars and their promotion of bifidobacteria at the expense of other bacteria. The model is an ideal system to assess the effects of various modulating strategies on the infant gut microbiome and its interactions with its host.

Associations between Kidney Disease Progression and Metabolomic Profiling in Stable Kidney Transplant Recipients-A 3 Year Follow-Up Prospective Study.

Background: kidney transplant recipients are exposed to multiple pathogenic pathways that may alter short and long-term allograft survival. Metabolomic profiling is useful for detecting potential biomarkers of kidney disease with a predictive capacity. This field is still under development in kidney transplantation and metabolome analysis is faced with analytical challenges. We performed a cross-sectional study including stable kidney transplant patients and aimed to search for relevant associations between baseline plasmatic and urinary metabolites and relevant outcomes over a follow-up period of 3 years. Methods: we performed a cross-sectional study including 72 stable kidney transplant patients with stored plasmatic and urinary samples at the baseline evaluation which were there analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance in order to quantify and describe metabolites. We performed a 3-year follow-up and searched for relevant associations between renal failure outcomes and baseline metabolites. Between-group comparisons were made after classification by observed estimated glomerular filtration rate slope during the follow-up: positive slope and negative slope. Results: The mean estimated GFR (glomerular filtration rate) was higher at baseline in the patients who exhibited a negative slope during the follow-up (63.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. 55.8 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0,019). After log transformation and division by urinary creatinine, urinary dimethylamine (3.63 vs. 3.16, p = 0.027), hippuric acid (7.33 vs. 6.29, p = 0.041), and acetone (1.88 vs. 1, p = 0.023) exhibited higher concentrations in patients with a negative GFR slope when compared to patients with a positive GFR slope. By computing a linear regression, a significant low-strength regression equation between the log 2 transformed plasmatic level of glycine and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was found (F (1,70) = 5.15, p = 0.026), with an R2 of 0.069. Several metabolites were correlated positively with hand grip strength (plasmatic tyrosine with r = 0.336 and p = 0.005 and plasmatic leucine with r = 0.371 and p = 0.002). Other urinary metabolites were found to be correlated negatively with hand grip strength (dimethylamine with r = -0.250 and p = 0.04, citric acid with r = -0.296 and p = 0.014, formic acid with r = -0.349 and p = 0.004, and glycine with r = -0.306 and p = 0.01). Conclusions: some metabolites had different concentrations compared to kidney transplant patients with negative and positive slopes, and significant correlations were found between hand grip strength and urinary and plasmatic metabolites.

Simultaneous estimation of nebivolol hydrochloride and amlodipine besylate in human plasma employing an innovative HPLC chromatographic method

Abstract Background This study developed and validated a simple, robust, and cost-effective RP-HPLC bioanalytical method for the determination of nebivolol hydrochloride (NBH) and amlodipine besylate (AMB) in human plasma. Briefly, NBH and AMB were extracted from plasma through protein precipitation using 5% formic acid and acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Inertsil ODS-3 V column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and buffer (40:60, v/v). The analysis was conducted using UV detection at 215 nm. Results The bioanalytical method demonstrated linearity for NBH (4.50–180.12 μg/mL) and AMB (3.50–140.06 μg/mL). It exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity, with LLOQ responses within ≤ 20% of the analyte signal. Accuracy and precision were within acceptable limits. The extraction recovery from human plasma showed a CV (%) of 1.15% for NBH and 1.35% for AMB, indicating consistent recovery rates. Stability studies on drug-spiked human plasma at LQC and HQC levels confirmed the stability of the drugs under various conditions. Conclusion The present bioanalytical method successfully quantified NBH and AMB simultaneously in plasma samples. It demonstrated suitability, supported by high recovery rates and low relative standard deviations. With its proven linearity, accuracy, and precision, this technique is well suited for drug identification in plasma samples.

Quantitation of the DNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitor peposertib (M3814) and metabolite in human plasma by LC-MS/MS.

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is an abundant nuclear protein that mediates DNA double-strand break repair by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). As such, DNA-PK is critical for V(D)J recombination in lymphocytes and for survival in cells exposed to ionizing radiation and clastogens. Peposertib (M3814) is a small molecule DNA-PK inhibitor currently in preclinical and clinical development for cancer treatment. We have developed a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantitating peposertib and its metabolite in 0.1 mL human plasma. After MTBE liquid-liquid extraction, chromatographic separation was achieved with a Phenomenex Synergi polar reverse phase (4μm, 2× 50 mm) column and a gradient of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and water over an 8min run time. Mass spectrometric detection was performed on an ABI SCIEX 4000 with electrospray, positive-mode ionization. The assay was linear from 10 to 3000 ng/mL for peposertib and 1-300 ng/mL for the metabolite and proved to be both accurate (97.3%-103.7%) and precise (<8.9%CV) fulfilling criteria from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on bioanalytical method validation. This liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) assay will support several ongoing clinical studies by defining peposertib pharmacokinetics.

The morphology and thermo-regulating properties of electrospun PVA/PEG/Ag nanofibers of water and formic acid solvents

The solvent utilized in the electrospinning solution significantly impacts the morphology and thermal properties of PVA/PEG/Ag nanofibers. To prevent leakage of PEG, solid-liquid phase change, a suitable encapsulation method involves utilizing a combined single-phase electrospinning that incorporates PEG and supporting polymer of PVA. This study aims to investigate the production of thermal-regulating nanofibers from a solution containing PEG 6000, PVA, and AgNO3 precursor using electrospinning method. The influence of water and formic acid as a solvent on the morphology of the nanofibers was examined using SEM. The selected nanofiber characteristics and thermal performance were evaluated through FE-SEM, FT-IR, XRD, DSC, PCM leakage, and DTG tests. SEM images revealed that the formic acid-based nanofibers, consisting of two polymers and two polymer/Ag NPs, exhibited a nanoporous membrane, possibly due to enhanced cross-linking compared to water-based nanofibers. The results of the DSC indicated that fusion and solidification enthalpies of the selected water-based nanofibers were measured as 70.09 and −85.43 J/g, respectively. Unexpectedly, the DSC results indicated higher enthalpies compared to unheated samples. SEM image after thermal cycles, leakage results, and DTG of water-based nanofibers demonstrated their production with thermal stability, reliability, and the potential for creating shape-stable, thermally regulating fabricated nanofibers for various applications.

State-of-the-Art Light-Driven Hydrogen Generation from Formic Acid and Utilization in Enzymatic Hydrogenations.

A concept of combining photocatalytically generated hydrogen with green enzymatic reductions is demonstrated. The developed photocatalytic formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation setup based on Pt(x)@TiO2 shows unprecedented hydrogen generation activity, which is two orders of magnitude higher than reported values of state-of-the-art systems. Mechanistic studies confirm that hydrogen generation proceeds via a photocatalytic pathway, which is entirely different from purely thermal reaction mechanisms previously reported. The viability of the presented approach is demonstrated by the synthesis of value-added compounds 3-phenylpropanal and (2R, 5S)-dihydrocarvone at ambient pressure and room temperature, which should be applicable for many other hydrogenation processes, e.g., for the preparation of flavours and fragrance compounds, as well as pharmaceuticals.

An Effective Strategy to Boost Formic Acid Dehydrogenation over Pd/AC-NH2 Catalyst through Pd Size Control.

Formic acid (FA, HCOOH) is regarded as one of the most promising carriers for hydrogen storage. However, the catalyst design for FA dehydrogenation into H2 with high efficiency is not clear. Here, we elucidate the rationale of size effect over the most commonly used Pd-based catalyst through supporting different Pd species, including single atoms, nanoclusters, and nanoparticles, on amine-functionalized active carbon (Pd/AC-NH2). The activity test presents that Pd/AC-NH2 with Pd nanoclusters exhibits the best turnover frequency (TOF) value of 40856 h-1 for 1 M FA at 328 K and even 1504 h-1 for neat FA at 308 K, which is comparable to the homogeneous catalysts and has been the first heterogeneous catalyst used in neat FA dehydrogenation under mild conditions. The comprehensive characterizations reveal that the size of Pd species affects the ratios of Pd0/Pd2+ and hydrogen spillover effect, which is crucial for the C-H cleavage and H2 desorption. Besides, the influences of amine groups on catalytic performance were further examined. This work provided an ingenious guideline to design efficient and practical catalysts for hydrogen storage under ambient conditions.

Synthesis of Bio lubricant from Bhallataka oil

The demand for a renewable and biodegradable lubricant as a substitute for fossil fuel-based lubricant has increased due to strong environmental concerns and expanding regulations over contamination and pollution in the environment. This study investigated the potential of using Semecarpus anacardium L.f. oil, which was identified as a potential raw material for biodiesel, as a feed stock for bio lubricants. Epoxidation and hydrolysis reactions were used to synthesize bio-lubricant. Epoxidized SA L.f oil was made using peroxyformic acid, which was produced on the spot by reacting hydrogen peroxide and formic acid with sulfuric acid acting as a catalyst. The oxirane value of the oil was 3.77, indicating that the unsaturated bonds were almost entirely converted to oxirane, while the iodine value decreased from 90.7 to 2.01 mg I2/g. ESAO

Introducing a Second Liquid Phase in the Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation to Formic Acid: Impact on Catalytic Conversion in Ru-Catalyzed Systems

Introducing a Second Liquid Phase in the Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation to Formic Acid: Impact on Catalytic Conversion in Ru-Catalyzed Systems

Conversion of Cellobiose to Formic Acid as a Biomass-Derived Renewable Hydrogen Source Using Solid Base Catalysts.

Formic acid is considered a promising hydrogen carrier. Biomass-derived formic acid can be obtained by oxidative decomposition of sugars. This study explored the production of formic acid from cellobiose, a disaccharide consisting of d-glucose linked by β-glycosidic bonds using heterogeneous catalysts under mild reaction conditions. The use of alkaline earth metal oxide solid base catalysts like CaO and MgO in the presence of hydrogen peroxide could afford formic acid from cellobiose at 343 K. While CaO gave 14 % yield of formic acid, the oxide itself was converted to a harmful metal peroxide, CaO2 after the reaction. In contrast, MgO could produce formic acid without the formation of the metal peroxide. The difficulty in selectively synthesizing formic acid from cellobiose using these solid base catalysts was due to the poor conversion of cellobiose to glucose. Using a combination of solid acid and base catalysts, a high formic acid yield of 33 % was obtained under mild reaction conditions due to the quantitative hydrolysis of cellobiose to glucose by a solid acid followed by the selective decomposition of glucose to formic acid by a solid base.

Validated HPTLC Method for Detection of Kaempferol in &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; Leaf Extract and Investigation of its Antidiabetic Potential by &lt;i&gt;In Vitro&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;In Silico&lt;/i&gt; Studies

Background: Exploring traditional treatments offers valuable foundations for the innovation of new pharmaceuticals for the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Validation of plant extract by suitable chromatographic techniques is a part of standardization procedures. Moringa oleifera is one such traditionally used plant to be explored. Aim: The study explores the antidiabetic potential of M. oleifera through both in vitro and in silico explorations along with HPTLC method development and validation for estimation of kaempferol in M. oleifera extract. Method: Plant extract was prepared by maceration method using ethanol: water (70:25) and followed by Soxhlet(95% ethanol). Pharmacognostical analysis was conducted. In silico and in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant studies were conducted, as well as quality control analysis was done using HPTLC method the mobile phase used was toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid: methanol: (6:3:0.3:1v/v/v/v). Results: HPTLC analysis showed the presence of kaempferol, and the method was validated as per ICH guidelines. According to reports on molecular docking studies, several phytocompounds inhibited when porcine pancreatic α-amylase (PPA) complexed with a carbohydrate inhibitor (PDB ID: 4W93).The hydroalcoholic extract was discovered to have the ability to inhibit α-amylase, with IC50 values of 57.38588±1.92 μg/mL and 32.51564±1.59 μg/mL for standard acarbose, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, this research provides comprehensive data for the estimation of kaempferol in Moringa oleifera by HPTLC and presents valuable evidence on its antidiabetic potential both in vitro and in silico.

Mechanistic Investigation into Copper(I) Hydride Catalyzed Formic Acid Dehydrogenation.

Copper(I) hydride complexes are typically known to react with CO2 to form their corresponding copper formate counterparts. However, recently it has been observed that some multinuclear copper hydrides can feature the opposite reactivity and catalyze the dehydrogenation of formic acid. Here we report the use of a multinuclear PNNP copper hydride complex as an active (pre)catalyst for this reaction. Mechanistic investigations provide insights into the catalyst resting state and the rate-determining step and identify an off-cycle species that is responsible for the unexpected substrate inhibition in this reaction.

Stability Indicating HPTLC Method for Estimation of Cubebin in Crude Drug and Marketed Formulations

Background: Cubebin is a naturally occurring lactone lignan isolated from the plant species Piper cubeba. It exhibits a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. This compound has garnered significant interest for its potential therapeutic applications in traditional and modern medicine. Aim: This study aimed to develop a novel stability-indicating High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) technique that is simple yet precise in estimating cubebin in crude drug and marketed formulations. Method: Cubebin was estimated using precoated TLC silica gel 60 F254 plate as a stationary phase and n-hexane: ethyl acetate: formic acid: methanol (6:3.5:0.5:0.3 v/v/v/v) as a mobile phase with the chamber saturation time of 20 mins. Key Findings: Cubebin was detected and quantified at the wavelength of 283nm. The Rf value of cubebin in standard solution, Piper cubeba extract, Dhanwantari Vati, and Khadiradi Vati was found to be 0.494±0.0015, 0.492±0.002, 0.490±0.0020, 0.499±0.001 respectively. The calibration curve exhibited linearity within the range of 3000-13000 ng per band with a correlation coefficient (r2) of Cubebin was 0.9968. The method developed was utilized for the quantitation of cubebin in Piper cubeba and both the marketed formulations. Conclusion: A novel HPTLC method was developed and validated in accordance to ICH guidelines for the analysis of cubebin in crude drug and marketed formulations. The method was found to be simple, precise, accurate, and specific. This method is suitable for quality control and stability testing of cubebin-containing formulations.

Fungal Biostarter and Bacterial Occurrence of Dry-Aged Beef: The Sensory Quality and Volatile Aroma Compounds after 21 Days of Aging

In this study, we decided to test the hypothesis that the fungal biostarter M. flavus used during a 21-day beef dry-aging process significantly impacts the composition of other microorganisms, the profile of volatile compounds, meat hardness characteristics, and, consequently, the sensory quality. The experiments were performed on samples derived from animals crossbred between Holstein–Fresian cows and meat breed bulls. Two groups of samples were studied, including the control group, without biostarter, and a group inoculated with the M. flavus biostarter. Both sample groups were seasoned for 21 days in the dry-aging fridge. The physicochemical parameters (pH, color parameters), the chemical composition of muscle, the determination of the shear force, the profile of volatile compounds (VOCs), and the sensory quality were evaluated after aging. During this study, classical microbiological methods were used to investigate the influence of fungal biostarters on the growth and survival of bacteria and other fungi (e.g., yeasts) during the dry-aging process of beef (DAB). The M. flavus biostarter improved the sensory quality of DAB, allowing high sensory quality to be achieved after just 21 days. This is likely due to the diverse VOCs produced by the fungus, including 1-tetradecanol, 2-nonenal, trans-2-undecenoic acid, and the following esters: formic acid hexyl ester, 10-undecenoic acid methyl ester, and 4-methylpentanoic acid methyl ester. The presence of the biostarter had no significant effect on the number of the bacteria or the survivability of the L. monocytogenes on the meat’s surface in laboratory conditions.