Biochemical
Communication
Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. 10(2): 49-52 (2017)
Biochemical composition of sh eggs from local water
reservoirs around Amravati city
Akarte S R and M. B. Mudgal*
Department of Zoology Vidya Bharati Mahavidyalaya, Amravati University, Amravati, India
ABSTRACT
Nutritional requirement of human is predominately ful lled by the animal meat; however it is found that the source
is inadequate due to various factors like, economy, environmental condition etc. In view of nding the higher
nutritional content we focus on especially the sh eggs. Fish is widely used throughout the world as besides being
a good source of biologically high valued protein. Nutrient composition of sh eggs is one of the important fac-
tors in determining the quality of egg. Quality of egg in freshwater sh and marine water sh can be determined
for different types of nutrients such as essential fatty acid, vitamins, and some trace minerals. In the present study
nutritional evaluation of fresh water sh eggs were carried out. Pangus and Hilsa were selected for the study purpose
and eggs were collected from the local market of the Amravati city. Along with protein, carbohydrate, lipid, miner-
als like sodium and potassium were also determined. RNA and DNA values were also determined as it is considered
as the most prominent factor or the development. Findings of the study reveals higher value of nutritional content
compared with the previous ndings of different sh tissue especially muscle.
KEY WORDS: FISH, EGGS, LIPID, PROTEIN, CARBOHYDRATE, RNA, DNA, SODIUM, AND POTASSIUM
49
ARTICLE INFORMATION:
*Corresponding Author:
Received 10
th
Feb, 2017
Accepted after revision 18
th
June, 2017
BBRC Print ISSN: 0974-6455
Online ISSN: 2321-4007 CODEN: USA BBRCBA
Thomson Reuters ISI ESC and Crossref Indexed Journal
NAAS Journal Score 2017: 4.31 Cosmos IF : 4.006
© A Society of Science and Nature Publication, 2017. All rights
reserved.
Online Contents Available at: http//www.bbrc.in/
INTRODUCTION
Fish is widely used throughout the world, as a good
source of high value protein; it is also useful in lower-
ing of blood cholesterol level. Fish contain signi cant
amounts of essential amino acids, especially lysine. There-
fore, sh protein may be used to complement important
amino acids and also to improve overall protein quality
of a mixed diet (FAO, 2005). Fish products comprise an
important ingredient in the human diet to upgrade their
nutritional standards. Nutritional value of sh obviously
depends on their biochemical composition (Prado, et al.,
2009). The health bene ts of sh oils in prevention of
cardiovascular diseases through modi cations of risk
factors like hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and secondary
prevention following myocardial infractions have been
reviewed (Calder, 2004).
50 BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FISH EGGS FROM LOCAL WATER RESERVOIRS AROUND AMRAVATI CITY BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Akarte and Mudgal
Fish eggs also have a good source for human nutri-
tion due to their therapeutic role in reducing certain
cardiovascular disorders (Stickney and Hardy, 1989).
Varying egg quality is a limiting factor for successful
mass production of shes. The problem of varying egg
quality, however, has received little attention. Appro-
priate quality of criteria has been dif cult to identify
because of limited knowledge (Kjorsvik et al., 1990).
The biochemical composition of eggs is one of the fac-
tors determining egg quality since eggs must contain all
the nutrients required for normal development during
embryonic and yolk-sac larval stages. Several nutrients
such as vitamins and essential fatty acids (EFA) have
been suggested to be related to egg quality in both fresh-
water and marine shes (Takeuchi et al., 1981; Watan-
abe 1985; Soliman et al., 1986 Foley et al., 2016).
More information on the relationship between egg
composition and egg quality is needed for the improve-
ment of egg quality (Watanabe et al., 1984). Apart from
this the study of RNA:DNA ratio of eggs is equally
important to know the nutritional status of eggs as well
as physiological condition of the sh itself in particular
water body. Required optimum ratio of RNA: DNA pre-
sent in sh body part or in spawned eggs is indication
of good productivity of water body.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The two species of genus, Pangus (Pangasius buchanani)
and Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) respectively, were considered
for study of biochemical compositions of its eggs. The
eggs of sh Pangus and Hilsa were collected for study
from the sh market of Amravati city. 250 grams of eggs
were collected from each sh. Then the eggs were stored
in deep freezer at -15oC in separate plastic bottles and
out of these some were kept in 1ml tubes, which were
stored in quick freezers up to -20oc. The samples were
taken accordingly from sample tubes at the time of bio-
chemical experimentation. Total protein was estimated
by Lowry et al., (1951). Total carbohydrate by Bligh
and Dyer(1959) and total lipid by Dubois et al., (1956).
Extraction of RNA and DNA was done by the procedure
of Halliburton et al., (1965) method. Estimation of RNA
was done by orcinol method of Ashwell (1957) and esti-
mation of DNA was done by diphenylamine method of
Burton (1956). Values are expressed in mg/100mg for
protein, carbohydrate, and lipid and μg/100mg for RNA
and DNA. Estimation of minerals (Sodium and Potas-
sium) was done with the help of ame-photometer
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
An egg needs all the necessary information to direct
the development; it needs all the amino acids, lipids
and carbohydrates, together with calcium (for bones),
vitamins and metals for enzyme and other metabolic
actions. These specialized materials are derived from
number of maternal sources and are incorporated dur-
ing the growth of the oocyte in the ovary. If an egg
does not contain a particular compound, or contains an
inappropriate amount of the compound, it will not be
able to sustain development of a viable embryo. Hence
mature egg contains these essential compounds in high
amount.
RNA-DNA ratio can be considered as a measure of
the amount of protein synthetic machinery per cell,
since the DNA content of an organism is an indicator of
cell number. Therefore, the direct positive relationships
between, RNA-DNA ratio and growth rate observed in
this study is as per expectation. Positive correlations
Table 1. Biochemical Composition of Macromolecules
Sr. No. Name of species
Protein
mg/100mg
Carbohydrate
mg/100mg
Lipid
mg/100mg
1 Pangus (Eggs) 40 0.49 4.02
2 Hilsa (Eggs) 27.7 0.35 5.24
Table 2. Biochemical Composition of Micromolecules
Sr. No. Name of species DNA μg/100mg RNA μg/100mg
RNA: DNA
ratio
Sodium
μg/100mg
Potassium
μg/100mg
1 Pangus (Eggs) 0.39 0.63 1.61 0.91 0.84
2 Hilsa (Eggs) 0.41 0.66 1.6 0.98 0.91
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FISH EGGS FROM LOCAL WATER RESERVOIRS AROUND AMRAVATI CITY 51
Akarte and Mudgal
between RNA-DNA ratio and growth rate have also
been observed for adult (marine sh), golden shiners
(Bulow, 1970). RNA:DNA analyses may be most useful
for assessing the condition of sh larvae susceptible to
entrainment, evaluating whether sh larvae are likely to
die from natural processes independent of entrainment,
or assessing the relative condition of sh larvae which
are still alive immediately following entrainment (Foley
et al., 2016).
Higher RNA tissue concentrations at lower tempera-
tures may be a compensatory mechanism for lower RNA
activity, (Goolish et al., 1984). In this study it was seen
that RNA/DNA ratio of sh eggs were comparatively
more than 1.5. It indicates that there will be the need of
large amount of proteins for the hatching of eggs and
the production of healthy new young ones. These results
show that there would be the good food availability for
these shes. Protein relation to RNA/DNA ratio derived
FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 2.
52 BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FISH EGGS FROM LOCAL WATER RESERVOIRS AROUND AMRAVATI CITY BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Akarte and Mudgal
from present study indicate good development. Response
of the protein and RNA/DNA ratio to the feeding condi-
tions was signi cantly observed (Akarte et al., 2014).
Determinations of RNA and DNA can be used as bio-
chemical indicators of recent growth rates of sh within
each time period; RNA concentrations increased some-
what with higher feeding rate and faster growth. DNA
concentration, however, increased with greater weight
loss and longer periods of food deprivation. The slight
decrease in DNA with increased growth and the slight
increase in DNA with increased weight loss were prob-
ably due to changes in cytoplasmic volume. It was
observed that food deprivation, other cellular constitu-
ents are metabolized and DNA is preserved (Leslie, 1955).
In the current study, the biochemical composition of
sh eggs of Hilsa and Pangus were observed. The bio-
molecules of these eggs which were being under con-
sideration were proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals,
and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). These bimolecular
components show the status and productivity of an
organism. In this study, it was shown that the concen-
tration of protein was in the range of 27.7mg/100mg
for Pangus sh and 40.0mg/100mg tissue in Hilsa sh.
Amount of protein shows the availably of food through
productivity of water to the organism. Finding which
is at variance with a recent suggestion are free amino
acids may serve as the sole substrate for aerobic energy
metabolism during embryogenesis in species, (Fyhn
et al., 1986). So, higher values of protein quantity sug-
gest good nutritional quality of sh eggs as human food.
REFERENCES
Ashwell, G. (1957) Colorimetric analysis of sugars: cystine reac-
tion of DNA. In Colowick, S.P. and N.O. Kapla, eds.: Methods in
enzymology. Vol. 3. Academic Press, New York, 1154. 10.
Bligh, E. G., & Dyer, W. J. (1959). A rapid method of total lipid
extraction and puri cation.Canadian journal of biochemistry
and physiology,37(8), 911-917.
Burton, K. A.(1956).Study of the conditions and mechanism
of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation
of deoxyribonucleic acid. The Biochemical Journal, 62(2):315–
323
Calder, P. C. (2004). N–3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular dis-
ease: evidence explained and mechanisms explored. Clinical
science,107(1), 1-11.
Ching, F. F., Nakagawa, Y., Kato, K., Murata, O., & Miyashita,
S. (2012). Effects of delayed rst feeding on the survival and
growth of tiger grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål,
1775), larvae.Aquaculture Research,43(2), 303-310.
DuBois, M., Gilles, K. A., Hamilton, J. K., Rebers, P. A. T., &
Smith, F. (1956). Colorimetric method for determination of
sugars and related substances.Analytical chemistry,28, 350-
356.
FAO, (2005). United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza-
tion, Nutritional elements of sh. FAO Rome.
Foley, C. J., Bradley, D. L., & Hook, T. O. (2016). A review and
assessment of the potential use of RNA: DNA ratios to assess
the condition of entrained sh larvae. Ecological Indica-
tors,60, 346-357.
Halliburton, I.W. and Thomson, R.Y.(1965). Chemical aspect of
compensatory renal hypertrophy. Cancer. Res., 25: 1882-1987.
9.
Kjørsvik, E., Mangor-Jensen, A., & Holmefjord, I. (1990). Egg
quality in shes.Advances in Marine biology,26, 71-113.
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., & Randall, R. J.
(1951). Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent.J
Biol Chem,193(1), 265-275.
Prado, R., Rioboo, C., Herrero, C., & Cid, A. (2009). The her-
bicide paraquat induces alterations in the elemental and bio-
chemical composition of non-target microalgal species.Chem-
osphere,76(10), 1440-1444.
S.R. Akarte, and M.B. Mudgal (2014). Tissue Speci c Vari-
ations in protein and RNA: DNA ratio of Freshwater sh
Channa punctatus Adv. Biores., Vol 5 [4] December: 35-38.
DOI: 10.15515/abr.0976-4585.5.4.3538
Soliman, A. K., Jauncey, K., & Roberts, R. J. (1986). The effect
of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation on hatchability, sur-
vival rate and fry performance in Oreochromis mossambicus
(Peters).Aquaculture,59(3-4), 197-208.
Stickney, R. R., & Hardy, R. W. (1989). Lipid requirements of
some warm water species.Aquaculture,79(1-4), 145-156.
Takeuchi, M., Ishii, S., & Ogiso, T. (1981). Effect of dietary
vitamin E on growth, vitamin E distribution, and mortali-
ties of the fertilized eggs and fry in ayu, Plecoglossus altive-
lis. Bulletin of Tokai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory
(Japan).
Watanabe, T. A. K. E. S. H. I. (1985). Importance of the study
of brood stock nutrition for further development of aquacul-
ture.Nutrition and feeding in sh, 395-414.
Watanabe, T., Ohhashi, S., Itoh, A., Kitajima, C., & Fujita, S.
(1984). Effect of nutritional composition of diets on chemical
components of red sea bream (Chrysophrys major) brood stock
and eggs produced.Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Scien-
ti c Fisheries (Japan).