Fatty Acid Profile of Indian Major Carp

The fatty acid contents of rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) collected from different geographical locations were determined. They were classed by weight as W 1 ( 2000 g). For different species (rohu, catla and mrigal), they were further grouped as per fatty acid (FA) profile like RFAW 1 , RFAW 2 , RFAW 3 and RFAW 4 for rohu, CFAW 1 , CFAW 2 , CFAW 3 and CFAW 4 for catla and MFAW 1 , MFAW 2 , MFAW 3 and MFAW 4 for mrigal. The contents of saturated fatty acids (SFA) were higher compared to monounsaturat ed fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in Indian major carp. Among SFA and MUFA, palmitic and oleic acid were higher. In rohu, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), total ω-3 PUFA, ω-3: ω-6 PUFA ratio and (eicosapentaenoic acid) EPA+ DHA were higher (P<0.05) in RFAW 4 group. In catla, oleic acid was higher (P<0.01) in CF AW 1 and CFAW 4 among MUFA. PUFA was higher (P<0.01) in CFAW 2 and CFAW 3 in catla. Among PUFA, EPA, DHA and total ω-3 PUFA and EPA+ DHA were higher (P<0.01) in CFAW 3 . In mrigal PUFA and arachidonic acid were significantly (P<0.05) higher in MFAW 3 . The total ω-3 PUFA and EPA+DHA contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in MFAW 4 in mrigal. Results indicated that Indian major carps are rich in PUFA considered to be beneficial for human health.