Proximate, Fatty Acid, and Amino Acid Compositions of Fish Muscle and Egg Tissue of Hilsa (Tenualosa) ilisha

The total lipid profile including the fatty acid composition and amino acid composition in eggs of Hilsa (Tenualosa) ilisha was studied in comparison with its muscle tissue. The eggs contained 30.4% lipid (on dry basis), which was 1.2 times higher than that of the muscle tissue lipid. The major portion of the egg lipid was composed of wax ester (about 47.6%) followed by triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipid (PL), and cholesterol. The muscle tissue lipid contained TAG as the major fraction (41.8 +/- 1.48%). Total amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was about 43 +/- 0.05% and 32.4 +/- 0.24% in egg PL and body tissue PL fractions, respectively. Among fatty alcohols of egg wax ester, 16:0 alcohol is predominant (56.4 +/- 3.02%). Both the egg and muscle tissues are rich in all essential amino acids. The results indicate that muscle and eggs from Hilsa are rich in essential amino acids, PUFA, and phospholipids which are essential for human health and membrane development.