Studies on lipid and fatty acid compositions of puffer livers from Indian coastal waters with seasonal variation

Are pufferfishes a viable source of nutritional value for human consumption-an investigation on recently commercialized marine pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae: Tetraodontiformes)

Estimation of the nutritional profile of edible fishes is essential, and thus, we have evaluated nutritional composition and amino and fatty acids profiling of recently commercialized marine pufferfishes from the coast of Mandapam in the Gulf of Mannar. Proximate analyses including assessment of ash, moisture, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the muscles of five edible marine pufferfishes were carried out. Major fatty acids profile of five fish species disclosed the presence of saturated fatty acids (SFA, 6.22-16.78%), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs, 3.01-10.59%), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs, 8.4-20.01%). The overall percentage of omega fatty acids ranged between ω3 and ω6 (5.63-14.01% and 2.77-6.1%), and the ratio of ω3/ω6 was 3.08-2.03% and ω6/ω3 was 0.32-0.49%. Moreover, n-3 PUFA was more than n-6 PUFA. In contrast, major amino acids in five fish species were glycine (4.77%), lysine (3.57%), methionine (2.91%), arginine (2.04%), and threonine (1.81%). The results obtained from this study can act as baseline data for evaluating the nutritional profiles of various fishes in the future. This is the first report of fatty and amino acids analysis on recently commercialized marine pufferfishes in the Gulf of Mannar region, and this finding may lead to new insights for further research.

Study on impact of habitat degradation on proximate composition and amino acid profile of Indian major carps from different habitats

This investigation is aimed to study an impact of habitat degradation on proximate composition and amino acid (AAs) profile of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala collected from polluted, non-polluted area (upstream) and a commercial fish farm. The amino acid profile was estimated by the amino acid analyzer. C. catla collected from the polluted environment had highest lipid, protein and ash contents (12.04 ± 0.01, 13.45 ± 0.01 and 0.93 ± 0.03%, respectively). The high protein content (14.73 ± 0.01 and 14.12 ± 0. 01%) was recorded in C. catla procured from non-polluted (upstream) wild habitat of River Chenab and controlled commercial fish farm. Farmed fish species showed comparatively higher moisture contents followed by upstream and polluted area fishes. C. mrigala showed significant differences in amino acid and proximate composition collected from a polluted site of the river Chenab. C. catla collected from non-polluted site of the river showed an excellent nutrient profile, followed by L. rohita (wild and farmed) and C. mrigala (polluted area), respectively. All fishes from the polluted areas of the River Chenab indicated a significant decrease in the concentration of some AAs when compared to farmed and wild (upstream) major carps. Omitting of some important AAs was also observed in the meat of fish harvested from polluted habitat of this river. C. mrigala and L. rohita exhibited a significant increase in the concentration of some of non-essential amino acids such as cysteine in their meat. The results indicated that wild fish (upstream) and farmed fish species had highest protein contents and amino acid profile and hence appeared to be the best for human consumption. The proximate composition and AAs profiles of fish harvested from the polluted area of the river clearly indicated that efforts shall be made for the restoration of habitat to continue the requirement of high quality fish meat at a low cost to the human population.

First report on distribution of heavy metals and proximate analysis in marine edible puffer fishes collected from Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, South India

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The proximate composition and distribution of heavy metals in different edible marine puffer fishes were evaluated.

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The results showed puffer fishes are rich in nutrients and high level of non-essential metals (Pb & Cd) than essential metals (Cu & Zn).

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Multivariate statistical analyses accessed to understand the distribution pattern of metals in different organs of fishes.

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This is the first report on the distribution of heavy metals and proximate analysis in marine edible puffer fishes from South India.

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The concentration of toxic metals (Pb & Cd) in puffer fishes showed higher concentration than the WHO recommended values.

In the present study, the heavy metal concentration in different organs (skin, tissue, liver, kidney, gill, intestine, and ovary) and muscle proximate composition were studied in marine edible puffer fishes Takifugu oblongus, Lagocephalus guentheri, Arothron hispidus, Chelonodon patoca and Arothron immaculatus collected from Mandapam fish landing centre, South east coast of India. Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb & Zn) were analyzed in different organs for the above mentioned species. The heavy metals concentration ranges in fish organs of all the five species were Cu (0.42 –6.31 mg/kg), Cd (0.01–0.79 mg/kg), Pb (5.80–19.87 mg/kg), and Zn (6.75–65.08 mg/kg). Zn was detected higher in all the samples followed by Pb, Cu and Cd. The proximate composition was determined in edible muscle tissues of all the five species. The highest and lowest protein contents were observed in T. oblongus (20.6 ± 0.6%) and C. patoca (17.9 ± 0.3%). In the present study, heavy metal concentrations were found very high in all the internal organs when compared to muscle tissues. Further, this is the first report on distribution of heavy metals and proximate compositions of commercialized important edible puffer fishes from Mandapam coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India.

Pharmacological evaluation and chemical standardization of an ayurvedic formulation for wound healing activity

Wound healing is a topic of substantial prominence in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine. Test drug Kshatantak Malam (KM), otherwise named as Baharer Nani, is described in Ayurveda since a long time for wound healing activity but necessitates scientific base. The test drug was prepared in the form of natural ointment with the plants like Achyranthes aspera, Allium cepa, and Canabis sativa under the base of butter in a specialized form of preparation. Chemical standardization was made on the basis of the physical character, rancidity test, extractive value, thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography. An 8-mm-diameter full-thickness punch was produced in Wistar rats. The test drug was applied topically and compared with standard comparators like framycetin ointment and povidone iodine ointment. Effects were observed on the basis of physical parameters like wound contraction size (mm(2)), wound index, healing period (days), tensile strength (g) and biochemical parameters like tissue DNA (mg/g), RNA (mg/g), total protein (mg/g), hydroxyproline (mg/g), PAGE study, and histopathological observations. Significant results (P < .05) were observed with KM in the punch wound model on the basis of various physical, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. The drug was found to be safe in acute and chronic toxicity models in animals. Chemically it is enriched with fatty substances.