Preservative Effect of Alga Flour Extract on Frozen Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) Lipids

The aim of this study was to investigate the preservative properties of alga <i>Gelidium</i> sp. flour when included in the glazing medium employed for the frozen storage (-18 °C) of horse mackerel (<i>Trachurus trachurus</i>). Different concentrations (low, medium, and high) of an aqueous extract were tested and compared to a control water-glazing condition. Quality changes (lipid oxidation and hydrolysis, fatty acid (FA) profile, and trimethylamine (TMA) formation) were determined after 3- and 6-month storage periods. A general quality loss (lipid oxidation with hydrolysis development and TMA formation) with the frozen storage period was detected in all samples. The presence of an alga flour (AF) extract in the glazing medium led to a lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05) TBARS and fluorescent compound formation and to higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) polyene values in frozen fish. Furthermore, a preserving effect on free fatty acids was detected in AF-treated fish. On the contrary, the AF-glazing treatment did not affect (<i>p</i> > 0.05) the TMA formation and the total n3/total n6 FA ratio. In general, preservative effects were found to be higher in frozen fish corresponding to the medium concentration tested. Current results show the potential of <i>Gelidium</i> sp. flour as a natural source of preservative hydrophilic compounds for the quality enhancement of frozen horse mackerel.