The Relationship in the Amino Acid of the Whole Body, Flesh and Exoskeleton of Common West African Fresh Water Male Crab Sudananautes africanus africanus

Abstract

The amino acid composition of the whole body, flesh and exoskeleton of the common fresh water West African male crab, Sudananautes africanus africanus was investigated. Glu was the most concentrated acid (128.0-130.0 mg/g crude protein) and Leu (50.0-60.9 mg/gcp) was the highest essential amino acid. Total amino acid range was 635.8-749.2 mg/gcp and total essential amino acid range was 298.2-356.6 mg/gcp or 46.9-47.9%. Val was the limiting amino acid in whole body and flesh whereas Lys was limiting amino acid in the exoskeleton and Phe+Tyr scores range was 1.0-1.2. Significant differences existed between essential amino acid and non-essential amino acids at p<0.05 among the samples. Percentage neutral amino acids was 54.9-57.6%, total acidic amino acids was 26.2-29.7% and total basic amino acids was 15.4-17.3%.