Amino acids contents of four commercial Nile fishes in Sudan

Abstract

This study was intended to identify contents of amino acids (AAs) of four commercial Nile fishes in Sudan and to use them in fishmeal manufacture. The study fishes were Dabis (Labeo niloticus, Forskål, 1775), Himeila (Brycinus nurse, Rüppell, 1832), Garmout (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) and Gargur (Synodontis schall, Bloch and Schneider, 1801). After producing dried meat of the study fishes, AAs were determined by SYKAM (57130 AMINOACID ANALYZER) device. Eighteen amino acids were identified and computed their percentages for each fish. AAs contents in Dabis were 0.02 to 19.36%, followed by those in Garmout (0.34 to 12.63%); those in Gargur (1.03 to 10.05%) and those in Himeila (0.01 to 9.99%). Eight essential amino acids (EAA) were identified among the total content of amino acids of all the study fishes. Dabis contained the highest percentage 71.7%, followed by Gargur 38.19%; Garmout 32.96%; whereas, Himeila revealed having the least content of EAA 28.21%. Methionine had nearly the same percentages among the study fishes as 0.34% in Garmout; 0.74% in Himeila; 1.03% in Gargur and 1.54% in Dabis; whereas, tryptophan was absent in all the study fish samples. Results of EAA showed that Dabis is the best Nile fishes for stock of EAA for fishmeal manufacture; whereas, the rest of study fishes are suitable to use for human food.

Key words: Freshwater fishes, Nile fishes, amino acid, essential amino acids, white Nile.