Determination of nutritional properties, heavy metal and tetrodotoxin (TTX) levels of pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis) caught from Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean)

In this study; the seasonal and sexual differences in nutritional composition, fatty acid profile, tetrodotoxin (TTX) contents and metal levels of pufferfish species (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus ve Lagocephalus suezensis) caught from Mersin Bay were investigated. The pufferfish were caught between December 2015 and October 2016. Nutritional composition, fatty acid and metal analysis were performed on muscle tissues of pufferfish species. TTX levels in gonad, liver, intestine, skin and muscle tissues were determined using Q-TOF LC / MS. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the nutritional properties of the pufferfish were high in terms of protein content and unsaturated fatty acid profiles. According to the metal analysis, the pufferfish species were high in terms of macro and trace elements in the muscle tissues but Pb and Cd were above legal limits. TTX levels of L. Sceleratus and L. suezensis ranged from 0.69 to 35.60 μg/g and 0.67 to 3.09 μg/g, respectively. Consequently, these species are toxic and not to be consumed due to their TTX content whereas L. spadiceus contained TTX below the detection limit and was not toxic.