Effect of Orange (Citrus aurantium) Juice Concentrate and Chitosan Coating Enriched With Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Essential Oil on The Quality and Shelf Life of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fillet During Storage in a Refrigerator

Many herbs such as fenugreek and orange have compounds with antioxidant properties, which can increase the shelf life of foods. Considering that fish are a popular food among consumers, they are susceptible to rapid corruption.

In this study, to improve rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet shelf life at refrigerated condition, orange juice concentrate and chitosan coating enriched with Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) essential oil was used.

In the present study, 8 treatments were evaluated for 12 days at refrigerator temperature for Chemical indicators PH value, Total volatile nitrogen (TVN), Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA), Peroxide value (PV), Free Fatty Acid (FFA), and Sensory Properties.

According to statistical results, fish fillets coated with chitosan enriched with 2% fenugreek essential oil and immersed in orange juice concentrate were lower than other groups for all chemical indicators and had a significant difference with the control group (P<0.05). In the DPPH test, the most inhibitory effect after BHT (butylated hydroxy toluene) was orange juice with 1.39 brix and then black pepper 2%, respectively. In the RP test, the absorbance of the coated sample with chitosan containing fenugreek essential oil and orange juice concentrate with BHT did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). Sensory evaluation also showed that the chitosan-coated sample containing fenugreek essential oil and orange juice concentrate improved the sensory index during storage compared to other groups, especially the control group.

According to the results, it can be stated that the use of orange juice concentrate, chitosan coating and fenugreek essential oil have a significant effect on reducing the oxidation process of rainbow trout fillet at refrigerator temperature.