Determination of nutritional quality of warty crab (Eriphia verrucosa Forsskal, 1775)

Abstract

Eriphia verrucosa is the largest Black Sea crab and can reach up to 9 cm in width. Crude protein, crude lipids, moisture and ash contents of warty crab meat, on a wet weight basis, were 19. 66, 0. 66, 76.13 and 2.35 g/100 g, respectively. The cholesterol content of warty crab meat was 55.78 mg/100 g. The fatty acid composition of warty crab was found to be 37.89% saturated (SFAs), 29.41% monounsaturated (MUFAs) and 20.05% polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs). Among the SFAs, palmitic acid (Cl 6:0) was the dominant saturated fatty acid and it occupied 19.65% of the total fatty acid. Oleic acid (Cl 8:1) was the dominant MUFAs (15.88%). The highest PUFAs were eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) contributing approximately 39 and 22% to the total PUFA content of the lipids, respectively. The highest essential amino acids were leucine, valine, lysine and isoleucine while the highest non-essential amino acids were aspartic acid glutamic acid, alanine, glycine in warty crab meat, respectively. © Medwell Journals, 2009.