Fatty acids composition and profile in the liver oil of three commercial nile fishes in sudan

The composition of fatty acids in liver oils from the Nile fishes, Polypterus senegalus, Clarias lazera and Lates niloticus was studied by gas liquid chromatography. Polypterus senegalus liver oil contains 65.5%, saturated acids (Myristic 5.4, Palmitic 36.9, Stearic 10.8, Tricosanoic 7.7, Heptadecanoic 2.8 % and Pentadecanoic 1.9) and 34.5% unsaturated acids. Clarias lazera liver oil contains 57.5% saturated acids (Palmitic 28.1, Stearic 13.5, Tricosanoic 12 and Heptadecanoic 3.9) and 42.5% unsaturated acids. Lates niloticus liver oil contains 58.8% saturated acids (Palmitic 35, Stearic 15.7, Tricosanoic 5.9, Heptadecanoic 1.5 and Pentadecanoic 0.7%) and 41.2% unsaturated acids. Oleic acid formed 28.3%, 19.9%, 11.5% in C. lazera, L. niloticus and P. senegalus, respectively. Eicosapentaenoic C20:5n3 was (0.36 ± 0.02 g/100g) in P. senegalus, (0.17 ± 0.02 g/100g) in C. lazera. Eicosapentaenoic, EPA, and Docosahexaenoic C22:6n3, DHA, together formed 1.9% in P. senegalus, 10.9% in C. lazera, and 9.8% in L. niloticus. Omega-3s formed 1.74% 0.83%, 0.49% and 1.74% of TFA in L. niloticus, P. senegalus and C. lazera, respectively. Omega-6s formed 1.2% of TFA in L. niloticus and 1.13% in Polypterus, but not detected in C. lazera. The livers of Nile fishes proved to be potential sources of essential fatty acids and valuable for human consumption. More focus on oil extraction from the liver of the Nile fish is needed. It is, certainly, decreases environmental pollution.