Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of fresh and dried hydrolyzed Cordyceps militaris (CM) mushroom with proteolytic enzymes; bromelain (CMB), flavorzyme (CMF), and mixture of bromelain: flavorzyme (CMBF) on quality properties of spent hen chicken.
Methods: Mushroom extract (CME) were combined with three proteolytic enzyme mixtures that had different peptidase activities; stem bromelain (CMB), flavorzyme (CMF), and mixture of stem bromelain:flavorzyme (CMBF) at (1 : 1). The effect of these hydrolysates was investigated on spent hen breast meat via dipping marination.
Results: Hydrolyzation positively alters functional properties of CM protease. in which bromelain hydrolyzed group (CMB) displayed the highest proteolytic activity at 4.57 unit/mL. The antioxidant activity had significant increment from 5.32% in CME to 61.79% in CMB. A significantly higher emulsion stability index (ESI) and emulsification activity index (EAI) compared to CME were another result from hydrolyzation (p<0.05). Texture properties along with the shear force value and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) were notably improved under CMB and CMBF in fresh condition. Marination with CM mushroom protease that previously hydrolyzed with enzymes were proven to also increase the nucleotide compounds, indicated by higher AMP and IMP in hydrolysate groups (p<0.05). The concentration of both total and insoluble collagen remained unchanged, meaning less effect from CM protease.
Conclusion: This study suggested the hydrolyzation of CM protease with bromelain or a mixture of bromelain:flavourzyme to significantly improve functional properties of protease and escalate the taste-related nucleotide compounds and texture profiles from spent hen breast meat.
Keywords: Cordyceps militaris; Hydrolyzation; Protease; Spent Hen Chicken; Texture Profile.