Synergistic effect of kojic acid and tea polyphenols on bacterial inhibition and quality maintenance of refrigerated sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) fillets

Fresh fish are highly perishable because their high content of protein and unsaturated fatty acids are easily oxidized and/or degraded under the influence of bacteria and the external environment. In this study, four natural preservatives (phenyllactic acid, kojic acid, tea polyphenols and thymol) were initially screened for antimicrobial activity against spoilage bacteria commonly found in fish by in vitro antibacterial tests. The results suggested that kojic acid (KA) and tea polyphenols (TP) exhibited a strong synergistic antibacterial effect against spoilage bacteria. Hence, the effects of KA and/or TP on the preservation of refrigerated sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) fillets after soaking treatments were determined. Changes in physicochemical parameters, indexes of fish freshness and microbial enumeration were examined. KA, TP and KA-TP treatments were effective in inhibiting bacterial growth and delaying lipid oxidation in fish flesh, resulting in lower TVB-N and TBARS than the control. Meanwhile, the freshness and physical qualities (color and texture) of fish fillets were also stabilized by the three treatments. Moreover, the KA-TP treatment showed the best effect on refrigerated fish preservation among the three treatments and extended the shelf-life by 5–6 days, suggesting that KA-TP have the potential to become a compound preservative for aquatic products.