Impact of oregano and virgin olive oil phenolic compounds on acrylamide content in a model system and fresh potatoes

In this study the effect of olive oil and oregano phenolic compounds on antioxidant activity (AOA) and acrylamide formation in a model system and fresh potatoes was evaluated. The addition of oregano phenolic extract in the model system resulted in an increase of AOA and in a reduction of acrylamide content, up to 49%, after heating. On the contrary, addition of olive oil extract resulted in AOA reduction and a concentration-dependent effect on acrylamide formation was observed with a reduction up to 15% (p < 0.05) followed by an increase up to 48%. The same trend, in acrylamide formation, was observed in fresh potatoes but to a lower extent. Finally, addition of tyrosol, oleuropein and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in the model system resulted in acrylamide reduction up to 50%. The discrepancy in acrylamide formation, caused by phenolic compounds, is ascribed to their structure and related to their terminal functional hydroxyl and aldehydic groups.