Autoxidation in xylose/lysine model systems

The volatiles produced in xylose/lysine model systems added with an antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, or rosemary extract) or a free radical initiator (alpha,alpha-azobis-(isobutyronitrile), AIBN) were analyzed to investigate the effects of the presence of free radicals on the Maillard reaction. The pH was maintained constant at 4 or 6, by adding a base, and the data were compared by principal component analysis (PCA). The additives were more effective at pH 4 than pH 6. At pH 4, the model system added with AIBN is very well-discriminated by PCA from the models with the antioxidants and the reference model system, indicating that the volatiles are sensitive to compounds that can interfere in an opposite way with free radical formation.