Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40238268›Full record

ArticleFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Impact of Harvest Periods on the Physicochemical and Flavour Characteristics of Sichuan Pepper (

Lian He, Yuwen Yi, Hongfeng Jia, Chengjian Xu, Mingfeng Qiao, Xuemei Cai, Sze Ying Leong, Nallammai Singaram, Sook Wah Chan, Hua Peng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Effects of NFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lian HeCollege of Culinary and Food Science Engineering, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.ORCID 0000-0003-2608-7776
Yuwen YiCuisine Science Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.
Hongfeng JiaCuisine Science Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.
Chengjian XuCollege of Culinary and Food Science Engineering, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.
Mingfeng QiaoCuisine Science Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.
Xuemei CaiCuisine Science Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tourism University, 459 Hongling Road, Longquanyi District, Chengdu 610100, China.
Sze Ying LeongSchool of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.
Nallammai SingaramSchool of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.
Sook Wah ChanSchool of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0001-8498-7890
Hua PengResearch Center for Tourism Agriculture Development, Sichuan Tourism University, Chengdu 610100, China.

Funding

Hua Peng Food nutrition Course construction project of Food Quality and Safety Applied Demonstration Course of Sichuan Tourism University in 2022, Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan (2022NSFSC0144),Hua Peng Higher Education Personnel Training Quality and Education Reform Project of Sichuan Tourism University (JG2022005),Hua Peng Meat Processing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Open Fund Research Project (19-R-20),Hua Peng Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan(2022NSFSC0144).Hua Peng Sichuan Cuisine Development Research Center Research Project (CC21Z07),Hua Peng Sichuan-Tibet Synergism and Innovation Center of Tourism Industry Competitiveness under Grant (21CZZX04),Hua Peng Sichuan Tourism University (2023SCTUZD12),Hua Peng The Engineering Research Center of Sichuan Provincial Colleges and Universities for Industrialization of Sichuan Cuisine (GCZX22-33, GCZX22-19),
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sichuan pepper is known for its unique aroma and tingling, numbing sensation, making it a key ingredient in Sichuan cuisine. This study explored the effect of harvest periods on the quality of Sichuan pepper at five selected harvest periods (LSA (early harvest), LSB, LSC, LSD, and LSE (late harvest)) along the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Apart from evaluating their physicochemical and volatile profiles, the growth characteristics, polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant properties, and free amino acid and other nutrient concentrations in these peppers were also analysed. Results showed that the moisture content, weight, and shape of Sichuan peppers improved progressively, peaking at the LSE harvest period. Throughout maturation, the energy content of the Sichuan pepper remained stable. Polyphenols and flavonoids, indicators of antioxidant capacity, increased in later harvest periods. A total of 18 amino acids were detected in Sichuan pepper. Proline was the most abundant amino acid, followed by serine, arginine, and glutamic acid, accounting for 83% of the total amino acids. Based on the taste threshold values of amino acids, a taste activity value (TAV) analysis of the amino acids was conducted. The TAV analysis of arginine and glutamic acid were greater than 1, indicating their significant contribution to the bitterness and umami taste, respectively. Through the principal component analysis of the electronic tongue, it was found that Sichuan pepper picked in late July (LSA stage) had a significant difference from that picked in September (LSD and LSE stages), while the difference in taste characteristics between Sichuan pepper in early September and late September was relatively small. Terpenes were the primary volatile compounds, and the number of compounds increased as the harvest period was delayed. PLS-DA analysis revealed that D-limonene had the highest VIP value, indicating its significant contribution to the overall odour of Sichuan pepper, and thus can serve as an indicator for assessing the maturity of Sichuan pepper. This study offers valuable insights for optimising the harvesting period of Sichuan pepper and serves as a theoretical reference for enhancing the development of the seasoning industry.

Indexed as

24 solar termsflavour characteristicsharvest periodsphysicochemical propertiesSichuan pepper

Identifiers

PMID40238268
PMCPMC11988949

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.