Biochemical Investigations on Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba

Raghunath M.R.; sankar T.V.; Radhakrishnan A.G.; suseela Mathew; Ammu K.; Ravishankar C.N.; Jayan K.; Leema Jose

doi:10.56093/ft.v37i1.20393

Authors

Raghunath M.R. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
sankar T.V. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
Radhakrishnan A.G. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
suseela Mathew Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
Ammu K. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
Ravishankar C.N. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
Jayan K. Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029
Leema Jose Central Institute of Fisheries Technology Cochin - 682 029

https://doi.org/10.56093/ft.v37i1.20393

Keywords:

Antarctic krill, heavy metals, pesticides, lipids, cholesterol, fatty acids, amino acid, autolytic activity, protein coagulation

Abstract

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana), caught by the First Indian krill expedition was processed on board into whole krill, peeled tail meat and whole krill mince. These were analysed for trace metals, lipids, cholesterol, fatty acids and amino acids. Autolysis at various pH and temperatures as well as thermal coagulation of krill mince suspended in various media were also studied. Trace metals were below toxic levels while no pesticides were detected. Krill tail meat had small amount of lipids and cholesterol (0.81 and 0.033"/!, respectively). The lipids were rich in C18:l, C20:5, C22:6, fatty acids. Autolytic activity at pH 3-4 and 8-10 was predominant in whole krill at 20 and 40oC, but autolysis in tail meat was very low. Nearly 80% of the soluble proteins in krill suspension could be precipitated by rapid heating.