Effect of red pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.) leaf extract on volatile flavor compounds of salted silver carp

Abstract Chinese red pepper ( Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.) leaf (ZML) extract was added to salted silver carp. The effect of ZML extract on volatile compounds formation of both dorsal and ventral muscle of salted fish was investigated. Lipid oxidation of salted fish with ZML extract was alleviated with lower peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values than that of the control. Therefore, the contents of some volatile compounds formed mainly by oxidation such as benzene, methylbenzene, 1‐octene‐3‐ol, hexanal, and methyl ketone, which attributed off‐odor of salted fish, were reduced. Principal component analysis results showed that the first principal component (PC1) and the second principal component (PC2) explained 62% and 31% of total variance, respectively, and volatile compounds of the dorsal and ventral of control group differentiated from treatment group. These results showed that ZML extract can be a source of natural antioxidants and food additives for improving flavor of salted fish.