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Bio- conversion of the α-linolenic acid (18:3ω3) to long chain -ω3 PUFA’s by detritivore fiddler crab, Uca acuta acuta in the mangrove-estuarine system at Midnapore(East), West Bengal, India

Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences ,2015,4,2,95-10.
Published:August 2015
Type:Research Article
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

Tapas kumar das¹, Anita ghosh2 and Susanta kumar chakraborty1*

1Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore (West), West Bengal, INIDA.

2Secretary, Drug Research & Development Centre, Kolkata, INIDA.

Abstract:

The present paper has attempted to highlight the transmission of bio-chemicals especially the omega-3 fatty acids from selected coastal mangrove leaf detritus in the process of foraging activities of Uca acuta acuta, a very common bioenergetically significant mangrove estuarine intertidal fiddler crab ( Brachyura : Ocypodidae ) inhabiting in the coastal belt of Midnapore (East),West Bengal, India and their bio – conversion in vivo .Leaf detritus has been found to contain appreciable amount of –ω3 fatty acids, particularly, the α- linolenic acid (18:3ω3) which is consumed and bio transformed by this studied fiddler crab. On analyzing, the fatty acids from the flesh of the crab species, exhibited considerably higher levels of both 20:5ω.3 (EPA, Ecosapentaenoic acid) and 20:6 ω.3 (DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid) in various tissues of the animal. This intertidal benthic fauna has shown the ability of chain elongation which appeared to be a prerequisite for the de-saturation of the α-linolenic acid (18:3ω3) which in turn produces the essential long chain PUFA’s (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids), EPA and DHA.