Proximate composition, fatty acid profile, vitamin and mineral composition of marine neogastropod Melo melo (Lightfoot, 1786)

Proximate composition, fatty acid profile, vitamins and mineral composition of edible tissue and hepatopancreas of Melo melo of Puducherry coastal waters of India was evaluated. The average protein content of edible tissue of Melo melo was found to be high (23.62± 0.03%) than the hepatopancreas (16.37± 0.02%). The study revealed the presence of 24 fatty acids where the saturated fatty acids of edible tissue constitute 51.38% and hepatopancreas remain 72.31%. Among the 15 SFA, the palmitic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid were found to be predominant. The gamma-linolenic acid and EPA were found to be high in PUFA. Presence of vitamin C, vitamin B3 and vitamin B12 in high concentration in both edible tissue and hepatopancreas demonstrate the antioxidant and erythropoietic properties. Macro and microminerals found to be in appreciable quantities in both edible tissue and hepatopancreas. The Na/K ratio remains less than 1.5. Therefore, the present study provides valuable information about Melo melo as a potential health food, highlighting its importance and advocating for its inclusion in regular human diets.