Title:Comparative Investigation of Fatty Acids in the Mauritania sardinella and
Moroccan Sardine
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Author(s): A.L. Khalihena Groune*, Adnane E.l. Hamidi and Mohammed Halim
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Environment, Center of Sciences of Materials, Faculty of
Sciences, Mohammed V University, Avenue Ibn Battouta, BP:1014, 10000 Rabat, Morocco
- Research Unit in Molecular
Chemistry and Environment, Chemistry Department, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Al Aasriya University of
Nouakchott, BP: 880, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Keywords:
Fish oil, gas chromatography, fatty acid, omega-3, omega-6, sardinella aurita, sardina pilchardus.
Abstract:
Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate the quality and quantity of lipids
and fatty acids in Mauritanian sardines (Sardinella aurita) and Moroccan sardines (Sardina pilchardus).
Methods: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and Fourier transform infrared
(FTIR) analyses were adopted thereof.
Results: the studied samples were found to be very rich in lipids: 17-26% for Mauritanian sardinella
and 45-48% for Moroccan sardine. Thus, GC/MS analyses revealed that the fatty acids
contents in both samples were subdivided into three essential groups: polyunsaturated, monounsaturated
and saturated fatty acids. The semi-quantitative analysis results, calculated using chromatographic
peak areas, have shown that Moroccan sardine is very rich in polyunsaturated fatty
acids (mainly docosahexaenoic (DHA) and ecosapentaenoic (EPA) acids) and monounsaturated
fatty acids (mainly oleic acid), compared to Mauritanian sardinella, who is very rich in monosaturated
fatty acids (mainly palmitoleic acid).
Conclusion: The lower valuable lipid content of sardinella was probably due to sampling conditions
realized during the reproduction period. On the other hand, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio is
higher in Mauritania sardinella than in Moroccan sardine.