Abstract
β-Alanine betaine (β-homobetaine) was is isolated in crystalline form from the white muscles of two species of fish, New Zealand whiptail Macruronus novaezelandidae and southern blue whiting Micromesistius australis, and identified on the basis of comparison of melting point, Rf values in TLC, IR and mass spectra with the synthetic specimen. It was not detected, however, in the muscles of cod, New Zealand hake, flatfish, big-eye tuna, and jack mackerel. These results may indicate that the distribution of β-alanine betaine in fish is limited.
