Structural Changes, Volatile Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Maillard Reaction Products Derived from Scallop (<i>Patinopecten Yessoensis</i>) Female Gonad Hydrolysates

In order to improve the utilization of scallop byproducts, scallop female gonad hydrolysates (SFGHs) were prepared using alcalase and ribose at a mass ratio of 1:2 and pH 7.0 (95°C, up to 12 h) to develop heterogeneous Maillard-type antioxidant and flavor compounds. The formation of Schiff’s base as well as modification of the amide bands in Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were investigated using ultraviolet–visible, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The significant decrease of amino acid residues explained the strong Maillard reactivity of SFGHs. MRPs with enhanced ABTS⁺ radical scavenging capacity over SFGHs promoted the survival of HepG2 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, 19 new volatile compounds were produced by the reaction of SFGHs with ribose. These results suggest that SFGHs–ribose MRPs can be potentially used as antioxidants with flavor properties. <b>Abbreviations:</b> SFGs: scallop female gonads; SFGHs: scallop female gonad hydrolysates; ABTS: 2ʹ2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); BHT: butylated hydroxytoluene; Trolox: 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; MRPs: Maillard reaction product; H₂O₂: hydrogen peroxide; HS-SPME/GC/MS: Headspace solid phase micro-extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.