4. Conclusions
Pea protein and its hydrolysate proved to be capable of
improving the oxidative stability of nitrosylhemochrome and
enhancing the characteristic red color in cooked nitrite-cured beef
during refrigerated storage. This effect was attributed to the
radical-scavenging activity and reducing power of the pea protein,
enabling the heme iron to maintain its reducing status, the
porphyrin structure to exist in a conjugated native state, and the
globin to remain unmodified. Due to the availability of antioxidative
peptides, PPH exhibited a stronger pigment-protection
efficacy than PPI. Further research is underway to elucidate the
specific changes and relative importance of different parts of PPH
and PPI in the stabilization of NO-Heme against oxidative
destruction.