Perception Of Pungency Research Articles

Factors explaining individual differences in the oral perception of capsaicin, l-menthol, and aluminum ammonium sulfate.

This research focused on the oral perception of naturally occurring chemical food compounds that are used in the pharma and food industries due to their pharmacological properties. They stimulate chemically sensitive receptors of the somatosensory system and are also chemesthetic compounds. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring alkaloid activating pungency perception. l-Menthol is a cyclic monoterpene working also as a medical cooling agent. Aluminum ammonium sulfate is used as a dehydrating agent and additive known to activate astringency in oral cavity. The objective of the study was to identify factors explaining individual differences in the perception of oral chemesthesis measured as sensitivity to chemesthetic compounds and their recognition. The subjects (N = 205) evaluated quality-specific prototypic compounds at five different concentration levels. Differences between gender were discovered in capsaicin sensitivity with men being less sensitive than women. Age was associated with the perception of capsaicin, l-menthol, aluminum ammonium sulfate, and the combined oral chemesthetic sensitivity. Quality-specific recognition ratings were also contributing to the sensitivity to chemesthetic compounds. A combined oral chemesthetic recognition score was created based on quality-specific recognition ratings. Increasing age generally indicated weaker recognition skills. Better recognizers had a higher combined oral chemesthetic sensitivity score than poorer recognizers. These results provide new information about chemesthesis. The results suggest that age and gender are important factors in explaining individual differences in sensitivity to capsaicin, l-menthol, and aluminum ammonium sulfate. In addition, recognition skills are associated with the sensitivity based on the quality-specific recognition scores.

Pungency Perception and the Interaction with Basic Taste Sensations: An Overview.

The perception of pungency can be attributed to the combination of pain and heat, and it has critical impacts on food flavor and food consumption preferences. Many studies have reported a variety of pungent ingredients with different Scoville heat units (SHU), and the mechanism of pungent perception was revealed in vivo and in vitro. The worldwide use of spices containing pungent ingredients has led to an increasing awareness of their effects on basic tastes. However, the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception based on structure-activity relationship, taste perception mechanism and neurotransmission lacks review and summary, considering its brighter prospects in food flavor. Thus, in this review, common pungency substances and pungency evaluation methods, and the mechanism of pungency perception is presented, and the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception and the possible factors of their interaction are reviewed in detail. Pungent stimuli are mainly transduced through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential fixed hormone isoform (TRPA1) activated by stimulants. Using modern detection techniques combined with sensory standards, different substances produce different degrees of pungent stimulation, ranging from 104 to 107 SHU/g. Pungent stimuli can affect taste receptor or channel protein conformation and regulate taste bud cell sensitivity by producing neurotransmission products. The products of neurotransmission and taste receptor cell activation in turn act on taste perception. When there are simultaneous effects of taste perception, pungency stimulation may enhance the perception of salty at a certain concentration, with a mutual inhibition effect with sour, sweet, and bitter taste, while its interaction with umami taste is not obvious. However, due to the complexity of perception and the uncertainty of many perceptual receptors or channels, the current studies of interactions are still controversial. Based on the understanding of the mechanism and influencing factors, the availability of pungency substances is proposed in the perspective of food industry in order to achieve new development.

The effect of pungency perception and personality traits on consumer's preferences from various regions of Türkiye for cig kofte, a traditional Turkish food

The aim of this study was to test whether personality traits influenced liking and choice of pungent foods such as cig kofte for Turkish population. In addition, we explored the role of demographic variables (gender and regions of Türkiye) and various concentration of capsaicin in cig kofte on the relation between personality traits and the frequency of annual cig kofte intake and liking of a spicy meal. Data of 316 participants from different region of Türkiye (47% women and 53% men) were examined. Participants were categorized for demographics, region, and personality traits (sensitivity seeking (AISS), sensitivity to reward (SR) and sensitivity to punishment (SP). They tasted cig kofte including various concentrations of capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide; 50, 75, 100, and 150 μM) and then evaluated liking and perceived intensity in it.A significant positive correlation was found between the liking of a spicy meal and frequency of annual cig kofte intake. Although a significant negative correlation was observed between the liking of a spicy meal and each concentration of capsaicin in cig kofte, no correlation was seen between the frequency of annual cig kofte intake and each concentration of capsaicin. In addition, the liking of a spicy meal was only associated with a personality trait, AISS, but the frequency of annual cig kofte intake was related to personality traits, AISS and SR. Besides, the relations between the frequency of annual cig kofte intake, liking of a spicy meal, personality traits (AISS, SR, and SP) and various concentration of capsaicin were influenced by both gender and region. Finally, no clear relationship was observed between liking and perceived intensity in cig kofte.

Identification of Compounds Contributing to Trigeminal Pungency of Baijiu by Sensory Evaluation, Quantitative Measurements, Correlation Analysis, and Sensory Verification Testing

Pungency is one of the most important mouthfeel characteristics that is primarily related to the sensory quality of distilled spirits. However, the chemical basis of pungency is still unclear. A set of Baijiu samples with different levels of pungency was characterized by sensory analysis and volatile compound analyses. Several esters, aldehydes, and acids significantly correlated with pungency. Ethyl hexanoate, ethyl acetate, 3-methylbutyl hexanoate, acetaldehyde, acetal, and 3-methylbutanal were confirmed to be the strongest contributors to the pungency of Baijiu by the two-alternative forced-choice test. Sensory recombination testing further revealed that the contribution of esters to pungency was much higher than that of the aldehydes, and acid compounds at low concentrations suppress the pungency perception. In this study, the importance of esters in the pungency of distilled spirits is first reported. The results provide an instructive basis for further research into optimizing the quality of products.

Relationships between Intensity and Liking for Chemosensory Stimuli in Food Models: A Large-Scale Consumer Segmentation.

This study, which was conducted as part of the Italian Taste project, was aimed at exploring the relationship between actual liking and sensory perception in four food models. Each food model was spiked with four levels of prototypical tastant (i.e., citric acid, sucrose, sodium chloride, capsaicin) to elicit a target sensation (TS) at an increasing perceived intensity. Participants (N = 2258; 59% women, aged 18–60) provided demographic information, a stated liking for 40 different foods/beverages, and their responsiveness to tastants in water. A food-specific Pearson’s coefficient was calculated individually to estimate the relationship between actual liking and TS responsiveness. Considering the relationship magnitude, consumers were grouped into four food-specific clusters, depending on whether they showed a strong negative (SNC), a weak negative (WNC), a weak positive (WPC), or a strong positive correlation (SPC). Overall, the degree of liking raised in parallel with sweetness responsiveness, fell as sourness and pungency perception increased, and showed an inverted U-shape relationship with saltiness. The SNC clusters generally perceived TSs at higher intensities, except for sourness. Clusters were validated by associating the level of stated liking towards food/beverages; however, some unexpected indications emerged: adding sugar to coffee or preferring spicy foods differentiated those presenting positive correlations from those showing negative correlations. Our findings constitute a step towards a more comprehensive understanding of food preferences.

Combined influence of TAS2R38 genotype and PROP phenotype on the intensity of basic tastes, astringency and pungency in the Italian taste project

The combined influence of TAS2R38 genotype and PROP phenotype on oral sensations is still to be clarified. The present work investigates their influence on the intensity of basic tastes and somatosensory stimuli (capsaicin, aluminium sulphate), using a large cohort of 1117 individuals. The possible influences of gustin genotype and fungiform papillae density were also assessed. PROP phenotype was mainly associated with TAS2R38 genotype with AVI/AVI individuals reporting the lowest mean bitterness intensity (12.6 ± 1.26), and PAV/AVI individuals rating PROP lower (46.53 ± 0.93) than PAV/PAV individuals (54.14 ± 1.33). However, 25% of AVI/AVI subjects reported PROP bitterness perception higher than ‘moderate’ and small percentages of both PAV/PAV and PAV/AVI responded very little to PROP stimulation. PROP phenotype significantly affected ratings to all the tastant solutions with ST subjects giving the highest ratings and NT the lowest. An unexpected systematic effect of TAS2R38 diplotype on perceived intensity was found, with AVI/AVI individuals rating tastant solution intensity higher than PAV/AVI and PAV/PAV for all the stimuli. Recursive partitioning analysis was used to determine the influence of the explanatory variables (TAS2R38 diplotype, PROP status, age and gender) on intensity for each tastant solution. Regression trees indicated that TAS2R38 genotype is the most important variable for explaining differences in intensity of basic tastes and astringency, when compared to PROP responsiveness, gender, and age. Gender was the primary determinant of heightened perception of pungency. PROP status was the second most influential variable in all the models, with limited influence only on sweetness and umami perception. No significant variations of intensity of taste and somatosensory sensations were found in association to gustin polymorphism or fungiform papillae density. These findings call for a re-examination of the notion that the TAS2R38 gene uniquely controls PROP tasting and for future research devoted to a more in-depth genetic characterization of the AVI/AVI group and its possible associations with other polymorphisms.

A Novel Quantitative Prediction Approach for Pungency Level of Chinese Liquor (Baijiu) Based on Infrared Thermal Imager.

Pungency is a crucial sensory feature that influences consumers’ appreciation and preferences toward alcoholic beverages. However, the quantitation of pungency is challenging to achieve using sensory analysis because of persistence, accumulation, and desensitization to the pungency perception. This study aimed to design a novel pungency evaluation method based on the measurement of tongue surface temperature. An infrared thermal (IRT) imager technique for measuring tongue surface temperature was established. To validate its feasibility, the IRT technique was used to measure tongue surface temperatures after the tongue was stimulated by (1) water and Baijiu, (2) different concentrations of ethanol aqueous solution (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%, v/v), (3) ethanol aqueous solution and Baijiu samples with the same ethanol content, and (4) 26 Baijiu samples with different pungency level. For all cases, tongue surface temperatures showed large differences as a result of the different stimulation. The results showed that the tongue surface temperature correlated with the pungency intensity obtained by the sensory analysis. The relationship between tongue surface temperature and pungency intensity was established by multiple linear regression analysis. The IRT technique was able to be a useful support tool to quantitatively predict the pungency of alcoholic beverages, based on the measurement of tongue surface temperature.

Sisymbrium Officinale (the Singers’ Plant) as an Ingredient: Analysis of Somatosensory Active Volatile Isothiocyanates in Model Food and Drinks

Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. (hedge mustard) is a wild common plant of the Brassicaceae family. It is known as “the singers’ plant” for its traditional use in treating aphonia and vocal disability. The plant is rich in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates; the latter has been demonstrated to be a strong agonist in vitro of the Transient Receptor Potential Ankirine 1 (TRPA1) channel, which is involved in the somatosensory perception of pungency as well as in the nociception pathway of inflammatory pain. Volatile ITCs are released by the enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of GLSs (glucosinolates) during sample crushing and/or by the mastication of fresh plant tissues when the plant is used as an ingredient. Some functional food and drink model preparations have been realised: honey enriched with seeds and flowers, infusions, cold drink (voice drink), artisanal beer, and a fermented tea (kombucha). Using SPME-GCMS chromatography, we analysed samples of the plant and of the food preparations adopting conditions that simulate the release of isothiocyanates (ITCs) during oral assumption. Two active compounds, iso-propylisothiocyanate and 2-butylisothiocyanate, have been assayed. The concentration of ITCs varies according to temperature, pH, grinding conditions, and different plant organs used. Kombucha-type fermentation seems to eliminate the ITCs, whereas they are retained in beer. The ITCs’ concentration is higher when entire seeds and flowers are used.

A Luminescence-Based Human TRPV1 Assay System for Quantifying Pungency in Spicy Foods.

The quantitation of pungency is difficult to achieve using sensory tests because of persistence, accumulation, and desensitization to the perception of pungency. Transient receptor vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which is a chemosensory receptor, plays a pivotal role in the perception of many pungent compounds, suggesting that the activity of this receptor might be useful as an index for pungency evaluation. Although Ca2+-sensitive fluorescence dyes are commonly used for measuring human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) activity, their application is limited, as foods often contain fluorescent substances that interfere with the fluorescent signals. This study aims to design a new pungency evaluation system using hTRPV1. Instead of employing a fluorescent probe as the Ca2+ indicator, this assay system uses the luminescent protein aequorin. The luminescence assay successfully evaluated the hTRPV1 activity in foods without purification, even for those containing fluorescent substances. The hTRPV1 activity in food samples correlated strongly with the pungency intensity obtained by the human sensory test. This luminescence-based hTRPV1 assay system will be a powerful tool for objectively quantifying the pungency of spicy foods in both laboratory and industrial settings.

Pungency perception and liking for pasta filata cheeses in consumers from different Italian regions

We aimed to investigate whether the sensitivity to capsaicin had an effect on pungency perception of pasta filata cheeses. In addition, we assessed the effect of several individual variables (gender, age, consumer provenance, PROP status and personality traits) on both consumer liking and choice for pasta filata cheeses. Four pasta filata cheeses at two ripening times and 272 subjects from three different Italian locations were used. Based on sensory data, the PCA discriminated sweet (ripened at 2 months) from pungent cheeses (ripened at 12 months). Cheese pungency perception increased with increasing sensitivity to capsaicin (P < 0.001). There was no clear relationship between sensitivity to capsaicin or sensitivity to cheese pungency with cheese liking, whereas a number of other aspects, including sensory attributes and individual consumer characteristics, such as consumer provenance (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.001) and food neophobia (P < 0.05), affected the liking for different pasta filata cheeses. Consumers who were younger (18–30 y.o.; P < 0.05), female (P < 0.001), unfamiliar with pungent foods (P < 0.0001) and consumers from Potenza (P = 0.001) more often declared to prefer sweet over pungent cheese, whereas in terms of real choice supertasters and neophobic subjects chose the sweet option more often (P = 0.01). In conclusion, sensitivity to capsaicin affected pungency perception in pasta filata cheese, whereas no clear relationship was observed between pungency perception and liking. The contribution of cheese and consumer characteristics on cheese liking and choice in addition to pungency, was confirmed by the differences in declared and real choice for sweet or pungent cheeses.

Evaluation of trigeminal pungency perception of allyl isothiocyanate – A time intensity (TI) study

Allyl isothiocyanate, the primary pungent substance within mustard, horseradish, and wasabi, causes a burning sensation and a lachrymatory effect during consumption. In this time intensity study, the sensory perception of the chemical stimulus allyl isothiocyanate was evaluated in water-based, oil-based, and mustard recipe-based carrier matrices. The results indicate that perceived pungency intensity and time course of perception were both strongly dependent upon allyl isothiocyanate concentration and the composition of the carrier matrices. Increasing allyl isothiocyanate concentrations led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in maximum intensity of pungency (Imax) in all tested carrier matrices. The intensity of pungency perception for allyl isothiocyanate decreased depending upon the specific matrix used. Specifically, this decrease occurred in the order oil-based carrier < mustard-based carrier < water-based carrier at similar allyl isothiocyanate concentrations. The values for end time of pungency perception (TEnd) and duration of decreasing phase (DURDec) indicate that increasing allyl isothiocyanate concentrations prolong the duration of pungency perception. Allyl isothiocyanate was perceived longer in water than in oil- and mustard-based carrier matrices.

Investigation in Sensory Properties of Liquid Extract Formulations Processed from Capsicum spp Varieties Sold in Abidjan

Aims: Peppers are common raw spices facing significant post-harvest lost in the handling train. This study was carried out to promote the production of pepper concentrate as spices extracts for foods.&#x0D; Study Design: Composite extracts formulated from raw peppers extracts using Central Composite Design, and resulted formulations submitted to sensory analysis.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Training and Research Unit of Biosciences, Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, between June and October 2018.&#x0D; Methodology: Using a central composite design, 25 peppers extract formulations (F1 to F25) were processed from raw extracts of four pepper varieties growing in Côte d’Ivoire, namely cultivars ‘’pili pili’’ and ‘’bill of bird’’ (Capsicum frutescens), ‘’pepper baoulé’’ (Capsicum annuum), and ‘’big sun’’ (Capsicum chinense). These formulations were then subjected to sensory descriptive and sensory acceptance analyses by panellists about the color appearance, the pungency flavor, the fluidity aspect, and the typical pepper aroma.&#x0D; Results: The sensory perception of pungency, fluidity, and aroma didn’t differentiate the formulations. But four formulations (F18, F20, F21, and F24) evidenced more intensive orange- yellowish appearance (4.44/7, 5.33/7, 4.33/7, and 4.67/7, respectively). From these formulations, samples F18 and F20 have been more enjoyed as food spices, with respective scores of 76.17% and 77.76% panellists.&#x0D; Conclusion: Both formulations F18 and F20 could be used as significant baselines in peppers extract processing for food interests.

Isothiocyanates and Glucosinolates from Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. ("the Singers' Plant"): Isolation and in Vitro Assays on the Somatosensory and Pain Receptor TRPA1 Channel.

Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. is a wild common plant of the Brassicaceae family. It is known as “the singers’ plant” for its traditional use in treating aphonia and vocal disability. Despite its wide use in herbal preparations, the molecular mechanism of action of S. officinale extracts is not known. The plant is rich in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, which are supposed to be its active compounds. Some members of this family, in particular allylisothiocyanate, are strong agonists of the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel, which is involved in the somatosensory perception of pungency as well as in the nociception pathway of inflammatory pain. This study aims to isolate the glucosinolates and isothiocianates from fresh S. officinale to identify the major components and test their activity in in vitro assays with a cloned TRPA1 channel. Samples of cultivated S. officinale have been extracted and the active compounds isolated by column chromatography, HPLC and PTLC. The main components glucoputranjivin, isopropylisothiocyanate and 2-buthylisothiocianate have been tested on TRPA1. The glucosinolates glucoputranjivin and sinigrin turned out to be inactive, while isopropylisothiocyanate and 2-buthylisothiocyanate are potent agonists of TRPA1, with an EC50 in the range of the high potency natural agonists identified so far for this somatosensory channel.

Determination of Recognition Threshold and Just Noticeable Difference in the Sensory Perception of Pungency of Zanthoxylum bangeanum

Zanthoxylum bungeanum, also called the Szechuan pepper, is a pungent-flavored spice. Together with the chili pepper, it constitutes the typical flavor of famous Chinese Szechuan cuisine. With the worldwide popularity of Sichuan cuisine and pungent food, the research on sensory perception of pungency of Z. bungeanum becomes more important and necessary. This article first determined the sensory recognition threshold and just noticeable difference of pungency of Z. bungeanum. The pungent extract, containing hydroxyl α-sanshool (63.6%), hydroxyl β-sanshool (22.8%), and hydroxyl γ-sanshool (7.4%) from Z. bungeanum was used as the tested sample prepared in ethanol–water solution. Ten selected assessors participated in three sessions of sensory tests in standard sensory evaluation booths established according to ISO 8589 by following two-alternative forced choice procedure. The data showed that the recognition threshold was 0.036 mg pungent extract per 1 mL ethanol–water solution and just noticeable difference exponentially increased with the increase of the concentration of pungent extract solution. The response of pungency among assessors followed Weber’s Law with a stable Weber fraction (0.118) from 0.0360 to 0.500 mg pungent extract per 1 mL. Nevertheless, the fraction changed when the concentration of pungent extract solution was above 0.500 mg per 1 mL.

Relationship between pungency and food components – A comparison of chemical and sensory evaluations

The influence of food ingredients (water, starch, fat, and sugar), individually and in combination, on the sensory perception of the pungency of capsaicin was studied in model food systems using the time-intensity method. Furthermore, the transferability of the results obtained using model food matrices to complex matrices, such as convenience salsas, was investigated. Significant differences between the samples (p<0.05) were examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Tukey-HSD post hoc test. A highly complex matrix and a high starch content reduced the perception of pungency in both the model food matrices and the convenience salsa products. Therefore, the time-related maximum intensity of pungency (Imax) was affected by other factors in addition to the capsaicin concentration.The total capsaicinoid content in the salsas was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) and correlated to the results of the sensory evaluation. The best correlation (R2=0.8029) was observed for the total capsaicinoid content and the maximum intensity of pungency (Imax) in comparison to the duration of the total pungency perception TDur (R2=0.5176) and the area under the curve (R2=0.6898). The calculated regression models serve as an example of how empirical calculations can be generated and used in a specific context.

The pungent substances piperine, capsaicin, 6-gingerol and polygodial inhibit the human two-pore domain potassium channels TASK-1, TASK-3 and TRESK

For a long time, the focus of trigeminal chemoperception has rested almost exclusively on TRP channels. However, two-pore domain (K2P) potassium channels have recently been identified as targets for substances associated with typical trigeminal sensations, such as numbing and tingling. In addition, they have been shown to be modulated by several TRP agonists. We investigated whether the pungent substances piperine, capsaicin, 6-gingerol and polygodial have an effect on human K2P channels. For this purpose, we evaluated the effects of these pungent substances on both wild-type and mutant K2P channels by means of two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes. All four pungent substances were found to inhibit the basal activity of TASK-1 (K2P 3.1), TASK-3 (K2P 9.1), and TRESK (K2P 18.1) channels. This inhibitory effect was dose-dependent and, with the exception of polygodial on TASK-1, fully reversible. However, only piperine exhibited an IC50 similar to its reported EC50 on TRP channels. Finally, we observed for TASK-3 that mutating H98 to E markedly decreased the inhibition induced by piperine, capsaicin, and 6-gingerol, but not by polygodial. Our data contribute to the relatively sparse knowledge concerning the pharmacology of K2P channels and also raise the question of whether K2P channels could be involved in the pungency perception of piperine.

Determination of Absolute Threshold and Just Noticeable Difference in the Sensory Perception of Pungency

Absolute threshold and just noticeable difference (JND) were determined for the perception of pungency using chili pepper in aqueous solutions. Absolute threshold and JND were determined using 2 alternative forced-choice sensory tests tests. High-performance liquid chromatography technique was used to determine capsaicinoids concentration in samples used for sensory analysis. Sensory absolute threshold was 0.050 mg capsaicinoids/kg sample. Five JND values were determined using 5 reference solutions with different capsaicinoids concentration. JND values changed proportionally as capsaicinoids concentration of the reference sample solutions changed. Weber fraction remained stable for the first 4 reference capsaicinoid solutions (0.05, 0.11, 0.13, and 0.17 mg/kg) but changed when the most concentrated reference capsaicinoids solution was used (0.23 mg/kg). Quantification limit for instrumental analysis was 1.512 mg/kg capsaicinoids. Sensory methods employed in this study proved to be more sensitive than instrumental methods. Practical Application: A better understanding of the process involved in the sensory perception of pungency is currently required because "hot" foods are becoming more popular in western cuisine. Absolute thresholds and differential thresholds are useful tools in the formulation and development of new food products. These parameters may help in defining how much chili pepper is required in a formulated product to ensure a perceptible level of pungency, as well as in deciding how much more chili pepper is required in a product to produce a perceptible increase in its pungency.

A versatile PCR marker for pungency in Capsicum spp.

Pungency in Capsicum spp. is an important quality trait for pepper breeding. The perception of pungency in pepper is due to the presence of a group of compounds named capsaicinoids, only found within the Capsicum genus. How pungency is controlled at genetic and molecular levels has not been completely elucidated. The use of molecular markers to assess pungency trait is required for molecular breeding, despite the difficulty of development of universal markers for this trait. In this work, a DNA sequence possibly related to pungency with a high similarity to Pun1 locus was studied, and sequence analysis of this homolog revealed a 15 bp deletion in non-pungent pepper accessions. An allele-specific pair of primers was designed and specific fragments of 479 bp from non-pungent and 494 bp from pungent accessions were obtained. Polymorphism of this marker, named MAP1, was tested in a wide range of accessions, belonging to several Capsicum species, including pungent and non-pungent accessions of C. annuum L., and pungent accessions of C. chinense, C. baccatum, C. frutescens, C. pubescens, C. galapagoense, C. eximium, C. tovarii, C. cardenasii, and C. chacoense. All these Capsicum accessions were correctly discriminated. The marker suitability to assess pungency in domesticated and wild Capsicum species was demonstrated, and therefore it will be very useful in marker assisted selection (MAS). Moreover, MAP1 was located in a saturated pepper linkage map and its possible relationship with the Pun1 locus has been discussed. Among the available markers for this complex quality trait, the marker developed in this study is the most universal so far.

Effect of Heating on Onion (Allium cepa L.) Antiplatelet Activity and Pungency Sensory Perception

Onion, in its raw form, is recognized as an antiplatelet agent that may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. In raw onions, the content of pyruvate, is significantly correlated with antiplatelet activity (AA) and the sensory perception of pungency. However, onion is generally cooked before consumption. Herein, we examine the effect of heating — using different boiling intensities — on the in vitro antiaggregatory activity (IVAA), the pyruvate concentration and the flavor (pungency) of crushed-onion samples. In general, heating is detrimental for onion AA. Boiling for 3 min has no significant effect on platelet aggregation, as compared to raw onion. Heating for 46 min completely suppresses IVAA, whereas samples boiled for &gt; 20 min have pro-aggregatory effects. Significant differences in AA are found between the blood donors. Pyruvate content is not reduced after 30 min boiling. Pungency ratings decrease with the intensity of the heat treatment. Strong significant positive correlations are found between IVAA and pungency, but not between pyruvate and the former two variables. Our results suggest that: (i) in order to obtain the maximum health benefits onions should be eaten raw or moderately cooked, (ii) extensive heating may result in pro-aggregatory effects, (iii) pyruvate is not a good indicator of AA in cooked onions, (iv) the decrease in IVAA and pungency during onion cooking may be due to degradation of sulfur compounds (e.g. thiosulfinates) which are, likely, less tolerant than pyruvate to the high temperatures.

Pungency in food perception and preference

Abstract While sensations of pungency are characteristic of food in all cultures, relatively little attention has been given to trying to understand the role these sensations play in our perception of, and preference for, foods and food flavors. This review provides an overview of research on the psychophysics of the sensory system responsible for perception of pungency (the trigeminal nerve), current views on how preference for pungency develops, and the qualities of common pungent food ingredients and their interactions with food flavors. It is argued that understanding the role that pungency plays in foods is essential to successful development of acceptable food flavors, especially for those markets in Asia in which pungency is a defining characteristic of the cuisine.