Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Skipjack Tuna () Bone Gelatin Extracted at Different Temperatures.

In this study, we produced gelatin from Skipjack tuna () bone. We used three heating levels to obtain the gelatin (80 °C, 90 °C, 100 °C), and its physicochemical and gel characteristics were thoroughly examined. The results revealed that the extraction temperature significantly affected the yield, gel strength, amino acid composition, antioxidant activity, and microstructure of the gelatin. Gelatin obtained at 80 °C yielded 6.53% with peak gel strength (59.72 ± 4.67 g), whereas the gelatin extracted at 100 °C had the highest yield (23.24%) but the lowest gel strength (13.71 ± 3.78 g). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) scans of gelatin derived at different temperature levels showed subtle changes in the amide region, but all the samples presented the characteristic absorption peaks of gelatin. An amino acid analysis showed high glycine (18.51%) and proline (13.45%) contents in the gelatin. Antioxidant tests revealed that gelatin obtained at 80 °C displayed the greatest scavenging effects on DPPH, hydroxyl, and ABTS radicals. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the gelatin made with lower temperatures showed a smoother and tighter microstructure. Rheological analyses revealed that higher extraction temperatures resulted in lower gel temperatures and melting temperatures and weaker gel network stability. The results of this study suggest that lower extraction temperatures are more suitable for the preparation of high-quality skipjack tuna bone gelatin, which gives scientific support for its application in food and medicine.