Abstract:To analyze and conduct a scientific evaluation of nutritional value of Datnioides pulcher, the common nutrient components, amino acid composition, and acid composition in muscle of D. pulcher were determined on the basis of conventional nutritional components analysis. Then comparison was made between the fish and some economic fishes from the same family and other freshwater fishes with common quality. The results showed that the content of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash in the fresh muscle of D. pulcher was 65.6%, 19.6%, 7.6%, and 1.3%, respectively. Sixteen kinds of amino acids of D. pulcher were found in dry muscle, of which seven were essential amino acids (EAA). In dry muscle, the total amino acid (TAA) content was 18.72%, the content was 6.81%, and the ratio of EAA to TAA was 36.09%. The essential amino acid index (EAAI) was 79.46%, which met the high-quality protein standard established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and Word Health Organization (FAO/WHO). According to the amino acids score (AAS) and chemical score (CS), the first and second limiting amino acids were Val and Met, respectively, and the EAAI of D. pulcher was 79.46. The flavor amino acid (FAA) content was 42.15%. There were 16 kinds of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), which accounted for 68.41% of muscle, among which oleic acid and linoleic acid, with richness in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), were 23.99% and 10.56%, respectively; meanwhile, DHA and DPA (relatively lacking in fish oil) contents were 8.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Results of the comprehensive analysis showed that the contents of amino acids and UFA in muscle of D. pulcher are higher, and the composition of amino acids is reasonable. Thus, D. pulcher is a high-quality fish with high ornamental value as well as edible value, and offers good prospects for exploitation and utilization.
