Abstract:

The lipid content of the back, belly, bone and viscera of yellowcheek carp (Elopichthys bambusa) was analyzed
by gravimetric method, and the fatty acid composition was tested by gas chromatography. The results showed that there were
significant (P ＜ 0.01) differences among different parts of fish and the same parts from fish of different weights. The lipid content
increased with the size of fish body, and 9.6–11.1 kg of E. bambusa showed a lipid content of (68.38 ± 2.12)% in the viscera. In
the fatty acids of E. bambusa, saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was 29.05%–30.74% and C16:0 was the highest among the SFAs;
unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) content was 69.25%–70.94% and C18:1ω9 was the most abundant USFA; polyunsaturated fatty acid
(PUFA) content was 20.84%–29.37%, C20:5ω3 and C22:6ω3 content was 1.78%–2.69%, 3.06%–4.78% respectively; the ratio of ω3/
ω6 fatty acid was between 0.79 and 1.64. The fish oil of E. bambusa had unique fatty acid composition compared with Cyprinus
carpio, Hypephthalmichtys molitri, Ctenopharyngodon idellu, soy oil and lard oil.

Key words: Elopicthys banbusa, lipid, fatty acid