The present study was carried out to assess variation in cholesterol and fatty acid content in various tissues viz muscle, skin, liver and skull of two different weight groups of farmed herbivore cyprinid Ctenopharyngodon idella. The cholesterol content in muscle, skin, liver and skull tissues of small (400 ± 9.50g) and large sized groups of C. idella (1005 ± 13.22 g) ranged from 35.93 to 149.06 mg/100 g. Significantly higher (P<0.01) levels of cholesterol were calculated in liver of C. idella as compared to muscle. The fatty acid compositions in muscle, skin, liver and skull tissues of small and large sized groups of C. idella ranged from 27.34 – 43.43% saturated fatty acids (SFA), 29.20 – 40.78% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and 24.04 – 42.02% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). There was a wide variation and significant (P<0.05) differences in the fatty acid profiles of the different tissues. The SFA and MUFA contents were significantly higher (P<0.001) in muscle and skin tissues of large sized group of C. idella as compared to levels in respective tissues of small sized C. idella. However, PUFA levels were higher in different tissues of small sized group of C. idella. The Ω-3/Ω-6 ratio in all tissues of C. idella ranged from 0.35 – 1.19. Comparison of Ω-3 and Ω-6 fatty acids showed higher levels for small sized group of C. idella and as compared to large sized group. The percentage of DHA (22:6n-3) exceeded that of EPA (20:5n-3) in all tissues of small and larger groups. Our present study suggests that C. idella have high reserves of essential fatty acids like Ω-3 and Ω-6 and they can be used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biomedical materials.

Keywords: Fatty acids,C. idella, cholesterol, muscle, DHA, EPA,

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