Effect of vacuum impregnated fish gelatin and grape seed extract on metabolite profiles of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets during storage.

Traditional methods evaluating fish quality do not involve comprehensive qualification and quantification of quality-related components. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vacuum impregnated fish gelatin (FG) and grape seed extract (GSE) on metabolites of tilapia fillets during storage using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Totally 42 metabolites were identified, 36 of which were quantified. The multivariate analysis results demonstrated distinct separations between fresh and stored fillets, indicating significant metabolite changes during storage. Some metabolites like choline and trimethylamine oxide were closely related to freshness while organic acids were associated with spoilage. Combined FG and GSE reduced the formation of undesirable metabolites like trimethylamine and histidine significantly (P < 0.05). Traditional freshness indexes indicated preserved quality after combined coating and further verified NMR results. This study reveals the potential of NMR to analyse metabolites that determine fish quality and to monitor their changes during storage.