Effect of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum basilicum Extracts on Antioxidant and Physicochemical Characteristics of Smoked Beef Stored under Room Temperature

Introduction: Incessant health risks associated with chemical preservatives have resorted to the need of exploring natural alternatives with antioxidant potentials in meat processing. In this study, the effect of Ocimum basilicum (OBE) and Gongronema latifolium (GLE) extracts were evaluated in smoked beef during 9 days of room storage (25±1°C).

Methodology: Beef samples were prepared from freshly cut rounds (2 kg each) allotted to four groups containing Nitrite, OBE, GLE and OBE+GLE respectively. Prepared beef samples were subjected to physicochemical (cooking loss, yield and colour), sensory characteristics, pH and lipid oxidative analyses. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05.

Results: No significant change was observed in cooking yield and colour although higher values occurred in control samples. OBE and GLE inclusions exhibited a marked potential in sensory characteristics such as flavour, texture, tenderness, juiciness with the panelists rating the latter as the samples with overall acceptability. Results in storage period showed a significant progression in TBARS and pH values in all treatments with the highest and lowest values observed in control and OBE treatments.

Conclusion: GLE treated beef showed a marked efficacy throughout the storage period than the other extract-treated samples. With the need to provide natural alternatives against chemical preservatives, exploring its synergistic effects with other cheap, accessible and rich bioactive sources will be imperative in shelf life extension of meat.