Comparison of Fatty Acids in Muscles of 9 Species of Wild White Pomfret

  Objective  The fatty acids (FFs) in the muscles of 9 species of wild white pomfret were compared for the development and utilization of the marine resource.

  Method  Samples of fish muscles were treated with 0.5% sulfuric acid-methanol prior to FF determination using capillary gas chromatography. Correlation and cluster analyses on the FFs were performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 20.

  Result  The muscles of the 9 species contained 34.52% to 48.29% of saturated FFs, 15.35% to 35.91% of monounsaturated FFs, and 18.45% to 37.26% of polyunsaturated FFs. The content of C16 ∶ 0 FF was similar in all species and the highest among all detected in the muscles. ∑MUFA was found inversely correlated with ∑PUFA, and ∑SFA not correlated with either ∑MUFA or ∑PUFA. The major FF, C20 ∶ 4(6)(AA), correlated with ω-6, and C22 ∶ 6 (3)(DHA) with ω-3, while EPA with none. Based upon the FF compositions, the 9 species were clustered into 3 groups, such as, Pampus genera, P. chinensis, P. minor and P. argenteus in one category.

  Conclusion  The contents of nutraceutical EPA+DHA and polyunsaturated FFs were high in the 9 species of wild white pomfret. The analytical information was of value for studies on the metabolism and taxonomy of white pomfret.