FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF Heterobranchus GEOFFROY SAINT-HILAIRE, 1808 SPECIES FROM RIVER GALMA, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The fatty acid profiles of Heterobranchus species were investigated from River Galma, Zaria Kaduna State,
Nigeria. Fresh samples of H. bidorsalis and H. longifilis obtained from the water body were subjected to Soxhlet
method of oil extraction using n-hexane as solvent and Gas Chromatography Mass-Selective Detection (GCMSD; Agilent Technology) for the detection of fatty acids present in the fish species. The resulting profiles
revealed 17 fatty acids in H. bidorsalis and 19 fatty acids in H. longifilis, whereas monounsaturated fatty acid
(MUFA) forms the bulk of the fatty acid in both species, saturated (SFA), as well as polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty
acids, were also identified. More PUFA was found to be present in H. bidorsalis than in H. longifilis with the
reverse occurring in MUFA. Dominant among the identified and qualitatively measured fatty acids include
Myristic C14:0, Lauric C12:0, Pentadecylic C15:0, Palmitic C16:0, Margaric C17:0, Palmitoleic acid C16:1(n7), Oleic Acid C18:1(n-9), Fumaric acid C18:1(n-11), and Linoleic C18:2(n-6). Essential fatty acids which are
important sources of nutrients promoting good health, prevention, and healing of diseases were identified from
the species.