Study on the application of Maillard model reaction in the simulation of tobacco flue-curing process

YANG Weiping; XU Xiujuan; XI Hui; ZHANG Wenjuan; LIU Shan; CUI Kai; GUO Yalong; YANG Chunqiang

doi:10.12187/2025.05.011

Abstract：In order to study the Maillard reaction rules and products during the tobacco flue-curing process,fixed and variable moisture content Maillard model reaction systems were established.The feasibility of using absorbance changes to characterize the intensity of the Maillard reaction was demonstrated through ultraviolet-visible spectrosco-py and component analysis.By using the fixed moisture content model reaction,the Maillard reaction rules of L-leucine(Leu),L-phenylalanine(Phe),and L-proline(Pro)at different tobacco curing stages were studied.By using the variable moisture content model reaction,the product generation of the three amino acids during the entire tobacco curing process was investigated.The results indicated:The order of Maillard reaction rates of the three amino acids during the tobacco flue-curing process was L-phenylalanine(Phe)>L-leucine(Leu)>>L-proline(Pro).The Maillard reactions of L-phenylalanine(Phe)and L-leucine(Leu)primarily occurred during the stem-drying stage,while no significant Maillard reactions occurred throughout the entire curing stage for L-proline(Pro).The products generated by the three amino acids during the curing stage were distinctly different.The main products of L-leucine(Leu)were isoamyl-substituted pyrazines,while those of L-phenylalanine(Phe)were vari-ous aromatic aldehydes and ketones,and no relevant products were detected for L-proline(Pro).The established model reaction system allows for the simple and effective characterization of the stages and intensity of Maillard re-actions of different amino acids during tobacco leaf curing through changes in absorbance,which holds significant application value for optimizing tobacco leaf curing processes.