Amino acid and fatty acid profile of five small Indigenous fish species (SIS) from Assam, India

Both proteins and fatty acids are significant macromolecules that control vital metabolic processes and act as building blocks for forming compounds crucial to biological processes. Fish are a significant source of high-quality protein and fatty acids in human nutrition. In this study, the amino acid fatty acid profile of five sun-dried small Indigenous fish species (SIS), viz., Anabus testudineus, Barilius barila, Gudusia chapra, Nandus nandus and Puntius sophore. The amino acid profile was determined using standard analytical techniques, while the fatty acid composition was assessed according to the AOAC method by preparing fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).The total detected essential amino acid concentrations in A. testudineus, B. barila, G. chapra, N. nandus, and P. sophore were 2788.23±5.74, 2939.86±7.6, 2750.44±12.93, 2534.41±4.77 and 1319.21±8.45µmol/L, and the concentrations of nonessential amino acids are 9141.48±6.18, 9493.55±9.58, 8523.89±13.1, 8261.06±9.96 and 4572.77±7.69 µmol/L. The study identified 23 fatty acids, with palmitic acid being the most abundant saturated fatty acid, followed by Myristic, Arachidic, Pentadecanoic, Margaric, Stearic, and Tridecanoic acids, with very low amounts of Behenic and Lignoceric acids. The present study has examined the amino acid compositions of significant dietary fish from various habitats (viz., River, beel, reservoirs, ponds and tanks, etc). Therefore, these can be recommended as a healthy supplement to the human diet, an alternate source of protein, and another nutrient requirement.