Polyamines content in meat of feathered game

Information about polyamines content in food is of great interest for many researches and dieticians. The reason for increasing interest is due to polyamines specific biological role, including participation in tumour growth. In the study the content of polyamines (spermine and spermidine) in the breast and thigh muscles of selected feathered game, killed in a way typical for used farming method, was observed. For purposes of this study the carcasses of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) bred out on the pond and shot by hunters and carcasses of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) from farm, killed by pithing, were used. The carcasses of both kinds of feathered game were stored at 0 and 7°C for 21 days. At regularly weekly intervals (1., 7., 14., 21. day after killing) samples of breast and thigh muscles (m=0.5 g) were taken. Polyamines (spermine and spermidine) were separated and quantified by reverse phase liquid chromatography. Obviously higher spermidine concentrations were observed in muscles of pheasant (maximal reached concentrations were 2.58 mg/kg and 2.60 mg/kg for breast and thigh muscle, respectively) compared to muscles of wild ducks (maximal reached concentrations were 0.22 mg/kg and 0.29 mg/kg for breast and thigh muscles, respectively). Spermine concentration assessed in pheasants muscle was higher than those in mallards muscle too. In the case of pheasants muscle, the differences between breast and thigh muscle were observed (maximal reached concentrations were 59.40 mg/kg and 39.14 mg/kg for breast and thigh muscle, respectively). Spermine concentrations in muscle of wild duck were lower and the difference between breast and thigh muscle was not so apparent (maximal reached concentrations were 50.26 mg/kg and 47.31 mg/kg for breast and thigh muscle, respectively). Presented study brings new and helpful information about polyamines concentration in meat of feathered game.