Integration of untargeted lipidomics and targeted metabolomics revealed the mechanism of flavor formation in lightly cured sea bass driven via salt

Salt enhances flavor and salinity in Chinese curing; however, excessive use can pose health risks, while reducing NaCl may harm taste. This study utilized targeted and untargeted metabolomics to investigate the intrinsic molecular mechanisms that drive flavor formation in cured sea bass subjected to salt. Glycine, succinic acid, lactic acid and uridine significantly contributed to the taste profile of the cured sea bass. A total of 668 lipid molecules were annotated in the samples, of which 60 were classified as differential lipids. Non-targeted lipidomic analysis identified phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major flavor precursors, constituting 40.12 % of the total. Elevated salt concentrations significantly enhanced the production and accumulation of key differential volatile flavor components, including 1-octen-3-ol, 2-undecanone and 2-pentylfuran. Thus, salt facilitated the degradation and oxidation of lipids, leading to the formation of key flavor compounds that contribute to the enhancement of the flavor profile of cured sea bass.