Gallic acid (GA, 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a widely used natural food additive of interest to food chemistry researchers, especially regarding its effects on myofibrillar protein (MP) oxidation. However, existing studies regarding MP oxidation by GA-combined with Fenton reagents are inconsistent, and the detailed mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This work validated hydroxyl radical (HO·) as the primary oxidant for MP carbonylation; in addition, it revealed three functions of GA in the Fenton oxidation of MP. By coordination with Fe(III), GA reduces Fe(III) to generate Fe(II), which is the critical reagent for HO· generation; meanwhile, the coordination improves the availability and reactivity of Fe(III) under weakly acidic and near-neutral pH, i.e., pH 4-6. Second, the intermediates formed during GA oxidation, including semiquinone and quinone, promoted Fenton reactivity by accelerating Fe catalytic cycling. Finally, GA can scavenge HO· radicals, thus exhibiting a certain degree of antioxidant property. All three functions contribute to MP oxidation as observed in GA-containing meat.
Keywords: Fenton reaction; antioxidant property; gallic acid; peroxidation; protein oxidation.