Abstract
The livers of non-toxic puffer fish cultured at aquaria on land in Saga Prefecture from 2006 to 2007 were submitted to physicochemical analyses consisting of its proximate component, fatty acids, texture, microscopic observation, and a sensory test. The livers of non-toxic pufferfish (n＝5) contained a high content (65.1％) of crude lipid, 27.8％ moisture, and 3.8％ crude protein. Furmore, the livers contained a high volume of n-3 unsaturated essential and functional fatty acids (11.6％ of docosahexaenoic acid, 4.0％ of icosapentaenoic acid, and 9.3％ of α-linolenic acid).
In addition, they contained a high content (8698 μgRE/100g) of retinol (vitamin A). Since the pufferfish liver was shown to be nutritional and functional, it is a promising dietary supplement. By heating, the weight of the pufferfish liver was reduced to 20％ of the weight of raw liver, and its rupture stress was a low value (1/6 of that of raw liver) . We expect that non-toxic pufferfish liver will be used as a new healthy food with nutritional ingredients.
