Inhibitory effects and reactions of gallic acid, catechin, and procyanidin B2 with nitrosation under stomach simulating conditions

Nitrite widely exists in meat products, and has the functions of bacteriostasis, antisepsis, and color development. However, in an acidic environment, nitrite will react with amines, and further generate nitrosamines with carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Polyphenols have good antioxidant and nitrite-scavenging effects. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of gallic acid, catechin, and procyanidin B2 on the nitrosation reaction under stomach simulating conditions and discuss the potential inhibitory mechanism. The nitrite scavenging rate and nitrosamine synthesis blocking rate of gallic acid, catechin, and procyanidin B2 under different reaction times and contents was determined by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The possible products of the reaction of the three polyphenols with nitrite were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to reveal the mechanism of inhibiting nitrification. The results showed that the scavenging rate of the three polyphenols on nitrite and the blocking rate of nitrosamine synthesis increased with the increase of the content and reaction time. The ability of the three polyphenols to inhibit nitrosation was catechin > procyanidin B2 > gallic acid. HPLC-MS analysis showed that under simulated gastric juice conditions, the three phenolics were oxidized by nitrous acid to form their semiquinone radicals as the intermediates and nitrosated derivatives, while nitrite might be converted to (NO)-N-center dot . These results suggested that gallic acid, catechin, and procyanidin B2 could inhibit nitrosation reactions in an acidic environment and may be used as food additives to reduce nitrite residues and nitrosamines in food.