Characterization and anti-aging activities of Haruan (Channa striata) fish oil

Haruan fish or snakehead fish (Channa striata) is a freshwater fish widely cultivated in Indonesia. Fish oils are believed to have some biological activities which are beneficial to human health, including antioxidant and antiaging activities. The objectives of this study are to determine the characteristics and yield of Haruan fish oil (HFO) using three extraction methods (steaming, maceration, and pressing), to determine radical scavenging activity (RSA) of fish oils using 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals and to determine anticollagenase activity of HFO. The extraction of HFO from the flesh part using the steaming method resulted in the highest RSA values either using DPPH or ABTS radicals. HFO could inhibit the activity of collagenase by 26.87±0.391%. The highest yield of HFO was obtained using the steaming method, with extraction yields of flesh and offal of 2.02% and 2.05%, respectively. The acid values (AV) of HFOs obtained from different parts using the steaming method were 1.87±0.04 (flesh part), 1.88±0.07 (head) and 1.93±0.05 (offal). The saponification values (SV) of HFO using the same extraction method were 6.30±0.26, 6.17±0.07, and 6.30±0.23 for flesh, head and offal, respectively. The peroxide (PV) and iodine (IV) values were 85.37±2.86 and 198.51±7.68, 103.70±2.21 and 206.44±5.24, as well as 96.05±2.93 and 193.68±1.70, for flesh, head and offal, respectively. These parameters (AV, SV, PV and IV) met the requirements. Haruan fish oil has the potential to be developed as a source of the human diet.