Application of antioxidants in cold plasma treatment of fish oil

As a mild non-thermal treatment technology, cold plasma can lead to lipid oxidation when applied to products with high lipid content. This study focuses on the physical and chemical properties of fish oil with cold plasma treatment and to explore the potential of Curcumin, Tea polyphenols, Vitamin E and β-Carotene in inhibit the oxidation process. Following treatment, the peroxide value and malondialdehyde value of the fish oil significantly increased, while the content of unsaturated fatty acids decreased and the singlet oxygen content rose (p < 0.0 5). However, the introduction of antioxidants during treatment yielded diminished peroxide and malondialdehyde values in the fish oil, thereby effectively curbing the presence of singlet oxygen. Notably, fish oil enriched with vitamin E exhibited the most robust antioxidant activity among the tested compounds. This study offers insights into strategies for enhancing the stability of high-fat foods subjected to cold plasma treatment.

Industrial relevance

Fish oil has long been essential in the processing of food, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed, making its quality crucial. This study revealed that cold plasma treatment accelerated the oxidation of fish oil; however, the addition of antioxidants effectively mitigated this effect. In industrial settings, cold plasma technology is favored in the food industry for its low-temperature operation and high efficiency in microbial inactivation. Despite these advantages, the reactive species produced during the process can cause lipid peroxidation and alter amino acids in proteins. This research offered critical insights into optimizing process parameters to minimize lipid oxidation. It also lays the groundwork for developing more efficient and safer food processing technologies and offers new approaches to extending the shelf life of fish oil and other lipid-rich foods during cold plasma treatment.