Relative Weight Relationship to Proximate Body Composition of Wild Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822)

Syed Muhammad Aun Naqvi1, Sara Tahir1, Tanveer Ahmed2*, Huma Naz3, Amara Gilani4, Atif Liaqat5

1Department of Zoology, Government Postgraduate College, Gojra, Pakistan

2Department of Life Sciences, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

3Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

4Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Women Campus, Faisalabad, Pakistan

5Department of Food Science and Technology, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.

Abstract | Proximate composition of meat and internal organs composition of freshwater fish Rita rita was measured in this study. Three variant weight scales including ≤350g (W1), 351-550g (W2) and 551-750g (W3) were selected. Among the weight groups, W1 revealed maximum values of percent moisture compared to the W2 and W3. Fish of the W3 weight group showed higher levels of crude protein and lipid percentage compared with W1 and W2. Highest ash (percentage) was measured in the gills of the weight group W3 as compared to W1 and W2. Generally, total carbohydrates are determined by the difference of the entire proximate body composition indices, and in this study, it was found that the liver contains maximum carbohydrates (percentage) relative to other sections of the body examined. Weight group W3 was found to have higher nutrients significantly (p<0.05) as compared to W1 and W2. Further, it is found that although the gills, liver, and gut of fish are not eaten directly by humans, but they have significant nutrient contents. The inferences of the present study would be helpful for the fish consumers in selection the best weight category and animal feed formulators.

Novelty Statement | The present study inferences will be helpful in the selection of appropriately sized fish for human consumption. Further, fish visceral organs (not consumed by humans) can be used in the formulation of nutritionally balanced diets for fish, poultry and livestock.

Article History

Received: November 25, 2020

Revised: January 18, 2021

Accepted: March 07, 2021

Published: June 09, 2021

Authors’ Contributions

SMAN supervised and guided the planning of the research work. ST executed the research experiments. TA help in writing the research article. HN help in data analysis. AG help in conduction of research experiments. AL help in results interpretation.

Keywords

Wild, Carnivorous fish, Nutrient composition, Meat, Liver

Corresponding author: Tanveer Ahmed

[email protected]

To cite this article: Naqvi, S.M.A., Tahir, S., Ahmed, T., Naz, H., Gilani, A. and Liaqat, A., 2021. Relative weight relationship to proximate body composition of wild Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822). Punjab Univ. J. Zool., 36(1): 25-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pujz/2021.36.1.25.30

Introduction

Fish is an essential component of food for consumers worldwide due to its quality nutrient profile which is imperative for proper body functioning, growth and reproduction (Ahmed et al., 2015; Saoud et al., 2008). Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822) is a fresh and brackish water carnivorous, bottom dwelling and sluggish fish species that belongs to family Bagridae and found abundantly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Mayanmar (Tripathi, 1996; Rafique and Najam-Ul-Huda, 2012). Its food mainly consists of insects, crustaceans, mollusks and small fishes (Yashpal et al., 2006).

Measuring the moisture percentage in a fish is a good indicator of its relative energy contents i.e. proteins and fats. The lower the percentage of water, the greater the energy contents of the fish (Dempson et al., 2004). To measure the water, protein, fats and ash contents of fish is known as a proximate body composition that illustrates the nutritional quality of food (Kamal et al., 2007). In addition to nutritional consistency, the proximate body composition is also calculated to assess information on the health status and physiological conditions of the fish (Dempson et al., 2004). Kandemir and Polat (2007) proposed that liver and muscle are two organs involved in the lipid storage. Fish liver is an excellent source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids especially omega 3 family i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid that minimize the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Discarding the fish liver and gut means all the nutritional properties are lost (Nathan, 2011).

Information regarding the fish proximate body composition is necessary for consumers, feed formulators and researchers for nutritional values, processing and seasonal variations, respectively (Murray and Burt, 2001; Azam et al., 2004). Weatherley and Gill (1987) suggested that the various values of fish proximate body composition could be compared between varied sizes and condition factors of that fish species. Knowledge of the proximate body composition of fish is necessary for various applications of processes, species characteristics, raw material quality and providing an understanding of the sexual stage (Kamal et al., 2007). Head, scales, fins, skin, gills, liver and gut are usually discarded in fish processing (Ahmed et al., 2015) although these parts contain a good percentage of nutrients in terms of protein and fats that can be used in fishmeal (Celik et al., 2005; Thammapat et al., 2010). Liver tissues are involved in the storage of lipids and carbohydrates (Kandemir and Polat, 2007).

To compare the benefits offered by R. rita for consumer health and due to its popularity in the market, the present study was conducted. A little is known about the proximate body composition of meat and internal organs of R. rita in local and international literature. Keeping in view the above information present study was planned to measure the proximate composition of R. rita.

Materials and Methods

Fish sampling and measurements

A total of twenty-one individuals of R. rita of three different weight categories (≤350g, 351-550g and 551-750g) were captured from Trimmo Headworks-Pakistan. Morphometric indices including length, width and wet weight of each fish sample were measured at the sampling site. All the captured fish samples were transported to laboratory by placing them in ice boxes for proximate analysis.

Fish samples preparation and proximate analysis

From the ventral side of the sampled fish longitudinal cut was given and internal organs including liver, gut and gills along with meat were collected for proximate analysis by following the methods described in AOAC (2000).

Data analysis

Data were analysed by using SPSS 11.5 software. To resolve differences among means, Duncan’s multiple range (DMR) tests were used. Among groups i.e. W1, W2 and W3, a value of p≤0.05 was used to indicate significant difference (Ali and Kiumars, 2010).

Results and Discussion

The present study was conducted with an objective to measure the proximate body composition of wild Rita rita captured from Trimmu Headworks-Pakistan and compare the values of measured proximate composition with different weight i.e. ≤350g, 351-550g and 551-750g of R. rita. To measure the statistical difference between different sizes proximate body composition values, P<0.05 was used.

Comparative proximate composition of meat taken from different weight categories of R. rita

In the present study, various parameters of proximate composition i.e. moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrates were measured from meat of wild captured R. rita and compared these measured values of proximate composition with different weight categories of R. rita. In meat, higher moisture contents (74.52±0.250) were measured in the smallest weight containing R. rita compared to larger fish. When energy i.e. protein and fat contents were compared with different weight categories, it was noted that larger weight containing fish i.e., W3 showed higher percentage of protein (24.21±0.382) and fats (3.3±0.112) compared to smaller weight containing fish. The results of ash proportion showed gradual increase in ash percentage as the weight and size of fish increased. Carbohydrates percentage showed fluctuation because they do not measure directly as other parameters of proximate composition and only deduct from 100 by sum of all other parameter’s values. Significant difference (P<0.05) were measured when compared all the proximate composition parameters between different weight categories within same species (Table 1).

Comparative proximate composition of gills taken from different weight categories of R. rita

Highest water contents (67.84±0.194) were measured in the gills of wild R. rita in weight category W1 compared to other higher weight containing fish i.e. W2 (66.36±0.292) and W3 (64.23±0.199). Protein percentage in the gills were measured in the range between 17.93±0.255 to 19.54±0.218 in all the three weight categories. Results about protein percentage further showed that W3 weight category is best because of protein percentage because of higher (19.54±0.218) protein percentage. Similarly, W3 weight category fish also showed maximum (3.79±0.244) percentage of fats compared to W1 and W2. W3 weight containing fish showed maximum percentage of ash in gills (12.32±0.099) compared to opponent and less weight containing fish (Table 2). Significant (P<0.05) difference was noted when gills composition was compared between different weight categories of fish (Table 2).

 

Table 1: Comparison of meat proximate composition (%) in R. rita between different weight categories.

Parameters	Weight categories
	W1	W2	W3
Moisture	74.52±0.250a	70.23±0.208b	68.13±0.208c
Crude protein	19.79±0.232c	21.82±0.123b	24.21±0.382a
Crude fat	2.34±0.277c	2.89±0.138b	3.3±0.112a
Ash	2.41±0.124b	2.72±0.108a	2.97±0.128a
Carbohydrates	0.94±0.02b	2.34±0.095a	1.31±0.03b

 

Data are presented as mean±SD; within a row same letters are not significantly different (p≤0.05)

 

Table 2: Comparison of gills proximate composition (%) in R. rita between different weight categories.

Parameters	Weight categories
	W1	W2	W3
Moisture	67.84±0.194a	66.36±0.292b	64.23±0.199c
Crude protein	17.93±0.255c	18.66±0.166b	19.54±0.218a
Crude fat	2.34±0.277c	3.01±0.271b	3.79±0.244a
Ash	10.91±0.245c	11.69±0.123b	12.32±0.099a
Carbohydrates	0.98±0.112a	0.28±0.179b	0.22±0.154b

 

Data are presented as mean±SD; within a row same letters are not significantly different (p≤0.05).

 

Comparative proximate composition of liver taken from different weight categories of R. rita

Moisture contents in the liver of R. rita was measured 72.46±0.204, 71.21±0.284 and 68.93±0.243 in W1, W2 and W3 weight categories, respectively. Maximum (%) protein was measured in R. rita belonging to weight category W3 compared to W1 and W2. It was observed that maximum fat contents (6.94±0.137) were measured in liver of wild R. rita having higher weight (750g) compared to lower weight containing R. rita. Ash percentage in liver of studied fish were measured 1.08±0.209, 1.45±0.118 and 1.99±0.107 in W1, W2 and W3 weight containing fish, respectively. Carbohydrates proportion were also recorded higher in liver of wild R. rita compared to other body parts studied in this work. Significant difference (P<0.05) were observed among all the proximate composition measured values in liver between different weight categories within same species (Table 3).

 

Table 3: Comparison of liver proximate composition (%) in R. rita between different weight categories.

Parameters	Weight categories
	W1	W2	W3
Moisture	72.46±0.204a	71.21±0.284b	68.93±0.243c
Crude protein	17.2±0.171c	18.21±0.199b	19.64±0.187a
Crude fat	5.93±0.208c	6.41±0.207b	6.94±0.137a
Ash	1.08±0.209b	1.45±0.118b	1.99±0.107a
Carbohydrates	3.33±0.177a	2.72±0.176b	2.5±0.154b

 

Data are presented as mean±SD; within a row same letters are not significantly different (p≤0.05).

 

Comparative proximate composition of gut taken from different weight categories of R. rita

Maximum water contents (74.63±0.265) in gut were measured in W1 weight category fish and minimum in W3 (70.92±0.187). The proportion of gut crude protein measured in this study were recorded 16.92±0.199, 17.64±0.199 and 19.87±0.382 in W1, W2 and W3 weight containing fish, respectively. Fats maximum proportion were measured 5.92±0.192 in gut of wild captured R. rita under W3 weight category. Similarly, maximum (%) of ash were observed in W3 weight holding fish compared to other weight containing fish (Table 4). When various values of gut proximate composition were compared between different weight containing fishes, significant (P<0.05) difference was observed as shown in Table 4.

 

Table 4: Comparison of gut proximate composition (%) in R. rita between different weight categories.

Parameters	Weight categories
	W1	W2	W3
Moisture	74.63±0.265a	72.21±0.203b	70.92±0.187b
Crude protein	16.92±0.199b	17.64±0.199b	19.87±0.382a
Crude fat	4.42±0.135c	5.23±0.153b	5.92±0.192a
Ash	1.45±0.233b	1.79±0.106a	1.96±0.172a
Carbohydrates	2.58±0.563b	3.13±0.246a	1.33±0.110c

 

Data are presented as mean±SD; within a row same letters are not significantly different (p≤0.05).

 

Fish and fish products are beneficial for human health due to their nutritional properties that render them valuable foodstuffs. The present study was performed to examine the proximate body compositions of the freshwater carnivorous, bottom dwelling and sluggish fish species, Rita rita captured with the help of gillnets from Trimmu Headworks, Punjab, Pakistan.

A wealth of literature is available on body composition of various fish species i.e. Esox lucius (Salam and Davies, 1994), Salmo gairdneri (Grayton and Beamish, 1997), Salmo trutta (Jonsson and Jonsson, 1998), Salmo salar and Salmo trutta (Berg et al., 2000), Cirrhinus mrigala (Mahboob et al., 2003), Salmo salar (Dempson et al., 2004), Clarias gariepinus (Osibona et al., 2006; Chukwu and Shaba, 2009), Mystus bleekeri (Naeem and Ishtiaq, 2011), Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita and Oreochromis mossambicus (Jabeen and Chaudary, 2011), Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Begum et al., 2012), Seriola dumerili (Abdullah, 2012), Cirrhinus mrigala (Ahmed et al., 2015) and Labeo rohita and C. mrigala by Sikandar et al. (2020). However, very little information is known about the body composition Rita rita (Abbas et al., 2013).

For a fish, the proportion of water is a good indicator of its relative energy contents i.e. proteins and lipids. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the present study for moisture contents in meat, gills, liver and gut among different weight containing R. rita. Highest moisture contents were measured in the smallest weight containing fish as compared to larger size fish meat, gills, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Related inferences were also reported by Hussain et al. (2011) in Catla catla, Semab (2011) in Cyprinus carpio and Hypophthalmicthyes molitrix and Ahmed et al. (2015) in Cirrhinus mrigala.

When energy i.e. protein and fats contents were compared with different weight categories, it was observed that larger weight containing fish i.e. W3 showed higher percentage of protein and fats in all studied body parts in this study compared to smaller weight containing fish. Similar results were also described by Al-Asgah (1992) in Oreochromis niloticus and stated that the crude protein and fat contents had increasing trend with increase in weight and size of fish. Lesser the water (%), greater will be the protein and lipids proportion and higher the energy density of the fish (Dempson et al., 2004). It is observed that protein and lipids (%) of R. rita increases as the increase in body weight of studied fish. The findings of present study are similar to the inferences of Ahmed et al. (2015) and Sikandar et al. (2020) who reported that energy contents i.e. protein and fats is directly proportional to increase in fish body weight.

In the liver and gut, higher lipids contents were measured in W3 weight containing fish in this study as compared to other organs and according to the inferences of Thammapat et al. (2010) who reported higher proportion of lipids in the viscera of Asian catfish (Pangasius bocourti). Although viscera are not used as edible part of fish by man, yet it can be successfully utilized in the preparation of various feed and pharmaceutical products due to its higher protein contents as low/no cost.

The results of present study about ash proportion showed gradual increase in ash percentage as the weight and size of fish increased in all selected body organs of fish for proximate body composition. The ash (%) in fish increased significantly with increasing in length and weight of fish (Al-Asgah, 1992). The inferences of present study about ash (%) are according to the findings of Ali et al. (2005), Chukwu and Shaba (2009) and Jabeen and Chaudary (2011).

Carbohydrates percentage showed fluctuation because they do not measure directly as other parameters of proximate composition and only deduct from 100 by sum of all other parameter’s values. In contrast to humans, fish consume lipids as energy source rather than carbohydrates which are generally ignored in proximate body composition analysis although they are chief part of human diet. Furthermore, as compared to larger fish, smaller sized fish showed more carbohydrates (%). The inferences about percent carbohydrates in different organs of R. rita in this study are similar to the findings reported by Saeed (2011) in Cirhinus mrigala and Catla catla and Ahmed et al. (2015) in Cirrhinus mrigala captured from wild source.

Conclusions and Recommendations

In conclusion, proximate body composition of R. rita differ with change in weight of fish. Larger weight containing fish showed higher nutrient values as compare to lesser weight containing fish. The results of the present study will be helpful in the selection of appropriately sized fish for human consumption. Also, fish visceral organs which are usually not consumed by humans, can be used in the formulation of nutritionally balanced diets for fish, poultry and livestock and in pharmaceutical products due to their nutrient contents. Further, fish as a whole has a lot of food potential and can therefore be expected to provide relief from malnutrition, especially in the developing country like Pakistan.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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