Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze fatty acids using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in combination with chemometric Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for the authentication of Rattus norvegicus fat from other animal fats.
Methods: Extraction of fat from raw meat of Rattus norvegicus, beef, chicken, pork, and dogs using the Bligh Dyer method, then derivatized with 0.2 N NaOCH3, precipitation of sodium glycerol was carried out by adding saturated NaCl to obtain methyl esters which were then injected into the GC-MS instrument. The GC-MS data were then processed using chemometric Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to group Rattus norvegicus fat with other animal fats (beef, chicken, pork, and dog).
Results: The results of the study revealed that fatty acids in Rattus norvegicus using GC-MS produced eleven types of fatty acids, namely: Lauric acid (1,1%), Myristic acid (1,15%), Palmitic acid (21,12%), Palmitoleic acid (2,06%), Stearic acid (8,23%), Vaccenic acid (2,43%), Oleic acid (26,51%), Linoleic acid (19,19%), Arachidic acid (0,09%), and Eucosatrienoic acid (0,39%). Chemometrics Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Rattus norvegicus fat allows it to be classified with other animal fats.
Conclusion: The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method, in combination with chemometric Principal Component Analysis (PCA), offered effective tools for the authentication of fatty acid of Rattus norvegicus.