Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Seasonal variation of the chemical composition of false scad Caranx rhonchus (G, 1817) from the Tunisian coast

Author(s):

Ilhem Ketata Khitouni ¹, Nourhene Boudhrioua Mihoubi ², Abderrahman Bouain ¹, Faouzi Ben Rebah ³*

Recieved Date: 2014-01-08, Accepted Date: 2014-03-28

Abstract:

The present study focuses on the seasonal variation of the global chemical composition of false scad Caranx rhonchus (G, 1817), fish of the coastal catch from the Gabes Gulf (Tunisia). The variations of moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the fresh muscle fish were examined as a function of sex. These variations are considerable for moisture and fat and less important for protein and ash. Maximal moisture content is reached during August for males (768.0 ± 11.5 g kg^-1) and minimal moisture content is reached during November for females (612.0 ± 6.0 g kg^-1). Inversely, maximal and minimal fat contents were recorded during November for females and April for males (132.2 ± 5.3 g kg^-1 versus 14.5 ± 0.3 g kg^-1). Higher protein values were observed over the year. Significant differences were observed for fatty acids in the examined fish species. Palmitic acid was the most abundant fatty acid ranging from 26 to 35%. Oleic acid was the main insaturated fatty acid ranging from 20 to 33%. Interestingly, muscle of C. rhonchus contained appreciable levels of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suggesting the use of this fish as a source of healthy diet for humans. The muscle contains high content of ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), ranging from 9.35 to 19% and including C20:5 ω3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and C22:6 ω3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) acids as major components. These two acids together accounted from 9.00 to 18.66% of total acids in the muscle of C. rhonchus. These findings may benefit the fishing industry, nutritionists and researchers who are striving to improve the nutritive value of this fish species.

Keywords:

Caranx rhonchus, coastal catch, chemical composition, fatty acid, fish muscle

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 775-780

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