The nutritional capacity of the fish Monopterus chuchia in terms of its fatty acid content was investigated to get an insight of their fatty acid composition in their most consumed part i.e. their muscle tissue. Our investigation shows the presence of SFA's like caproic acid, caprylic acid, palmitic acid, pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, behenic acid, MUFA's like myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and nutritionally important PUFA's like Eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid in major amount. Erucic acid, which is reported to be an anti-nutritional factor, is present in extremely low concentration. Thus the fish which is generally consumed by very few can be farmed as a cheap nutritional source for the masses.

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Fatty acid profiles of three major carps Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala found and consumed in West Bengal, India were investigated and compared to draw a conclusion on how rich they are in their fatty acid composition in their most consumed part i.e. their muscle tissues. After analysis we have found that all the three carps investigated are rich in poly unsaturated fatty acid and the major poly unsaturated fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. The major saturated fatty acids detected in all the three carps are palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0). Oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) is the major mono unsaturated fatty acid present in these carps. Erucic acid (C22:1 n-9), which is reported to be an antinutritional factor is present in very low concentration. Thus one can conclude that these three fish species if farmed meticulously i.e. given the proper growing conditions, can be nutritious and low cost healthy diet for the population of Bengal.

Objective: This project was taken up for a period of two years to assess the nutritional capacity of Channa striata, which is consumed as a cheap, nutritious food in most parts of India and East Asian countries by determining its fatty acid profile and monthly variation of lipid and fatty acid in its most edible part. Methods: Total lipid was extracted by conventional methods laid down by Folch and his associates and was then saponified to obtain the total fatty acid. The fatty acid mixture thus obtained was then converted to their methyl esters and was subjected to Gas Chromatograph using a flame ionization detector to detect the individual fatty acids. Results: Our investigation shows that the total lipid and fatty acid in the edible part dip to its minimum in the month of July, as one should expect during the breeding season because the stored lipid, as well as fatty acids, are mobilized to the gonads for their development during the reproductive season which is monsoon. C. striata contain more of MUFAs (64.34%) and PUFAs (16.21%), which are more beneficial to human health than SFAs (12.5%), which are most hazardous to health. Conclusion: C. striata can definitely be marked as a cheap, nutritious food source, with its share of negativity. Our work will surely enlighten future works on this species in the spheres of preservation, organized farming, and maintaining the biodiversity of the place where it thrives.

The fatty acid composition of the muscle tissue of Wallagu attu found in Gangetic West Bengal, India was investigated to get an insight of its nutritional capacity. The fish muscle proved to be a rich source of both mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids. Of the saturated fatty acids Palmitic and Heneicosanoic acid is detected in considerable amount. Of the MUFA’s present Palmetoleic acid, Elaidic acid, Oleic acid and nervonic acid is found in good amount. Nutritionally important ω-6 PUFA’s like Linoleic acid and Arachidonic acid are found in the fish. EPA and DHA the two star ω-3 PUFA’s whose health benefits are beyond doubt are also detected in the fish. Wallagu attu is generally not farmed as it devours other fishes but considering its nutritional capacity and high market demands, its farming may prove beneficial for consumers and producers.