The fatty acid composition of some fish species from the mediterranean

In this study, total lipid and the fatty acid profiles of total lipid, phospholipid (PL) and triacylglycerol (TAG) in muscle of leerfish (Lichia amia), common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), Threadfin breams (Nemipterus randalli), chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), sand smelt (Atherina boyeri), Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (Coris julis), stripped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) were investigated. It was determined that the lipid contents, expressed on a wet weight basis, ranged from as low 0.39 / 100 g in Threadfin breams to the highest amount of 3.89 / 100 g in Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse. Fatty acid compositions of total lipid, PL and TAG fractions have been determined in muscles of fish by gas chromatography using a mixture of fatty acid standards. According to the Gas Chromatography results, following saturated fatty acids (SFA): myristic acid (14:0), pentadecanoic acid (15:0) palmitic acid (16:0), heptadecanoic acid (17:0) and stearic acid (18:0) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA): palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7), oleic acid (18:1n-9) and eicosenoic acid (20:1n-9); and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): linoleic acid (18:2n-6), linolenic acid (18:3n-3), eicosadienoic acid (20:2n-6) eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-6), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were determined in muscles of fish species. There were significant differences (p <0.05) in terms of the total and individual saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the fatty acid composition of the fish species. The major fatty acids in the total lipid and PL, TAG fractions of fish species were 16:0 from SFAs, 18: 1n-9 from MUFAs, and EPA and DHA from PUFAs. The percentage of 16:0 was between 24.90 - 41.21 %, 18:0, 6.41 - 12.42 % from SFAs, 16: 1n-7, 1.09 - 8.06 %, 18: 1n-9, 7.32 - 19.38 % from MUFAs and EPA, 2.58 - 8.10 %, DHA, 11.91 - 38.26 % from PUFAs in total lipids extracted from the muscles of the fish. Fatty acid groups in the total lipid of the eight fish species were further classified as SFA (40.07 - 58.73%)> PUFA (27.23 - 50.40%)> MUFA (8.66 - 27.75%). The percentage of docosahexaenoic acid was higher than EPA in all fish. PUFA / SFA ratio in total lipids of the analyzed fish ranged from 0.46 (sand smelt h) to 1.23 (chub mackerel). The n-3 / n-6 ratio in total lipid of fish species varied significantly between 2.30 (sand smelt) and 7.86 (common dolphinfish). In the eight fish species studied, some fatty acids accumulated more in PL fraction and some in TAG fraction. Some fatty acids were found close to each other in both fractions. Phospholipid has higher n-3 / n-6, PUFA / SFA and DHA / EPA ratios and has higher levels of AA, DHA than TAG; 16: 0, 16: 1n-7 and 20: 1n-9 fatty acids at a lower level.