1H NMR spectroscopy as a tool to probe potential biomarkers of the drying-salting process: A proof-of-concept study with the Amazon fish pirarucu

Dry-salted pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) plays an important cultural role in the Amazon region - South America. In this study, we explored the changes in the chemical composition of pirarucu meat following the drying-salting process via H-1 NMR spectroscopy. Combining multivariate and univariate statistical analyses yielded a robust differentiation of metabolites involved in the process. VIP score (>1), p-value (<0.05), and AUC (>0.7) were considered to selecting compounds that had significant fluctuations in their contents along the process. Our results pointed out acetate, lactate, succinate, and creatinine as metabolites undergoing significant changes during the drying-salting process. Creatinine was not detected in fresh samples. The investigation of multiple components delves deeper into the molecular nuances of the salting-drying process's impact on fish meat, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the possible chemical transformations and how the matrix's quality control and nutritional aspects should be addressed.