Abstract:

Objective: To analyze seasonal changes in nutritional components of crust and viscera of Halocynthia roretzi
and to evaluate its nutritional value. Methods: The contents of moisture, ash, crude fat and protein in crust and viscera were
determined according to the Chinese national standards. The contents of total carbohydrate, amino acids, fatty acids and
minerals were analyzed by the routine methods. Results: The contents of crude fat, protein and total carbohydrate were
higher in July than in October. A total of 17 amino acids were detected, among which, glutamic acid was the most abundant
amino acid in viscera; so was aspartic acid in crust. Many kinds of unsaturated fatty acids were detected from H. roretzi, with
differences in terms of both fatty acid composition and contents observed between July and October. Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and
other microelements were also detected as well as very small amounts of Pb and Hg. Conclusion: H. roretzi possesses high
nutritional value and has promising development prospects.

Key words: Halocynthia roretzi, crust, viscera, nutritional components