Amino acid composition in the muscles of male and female commercially important crustaceans from Egyptian and Saudi Arabia coasts

Seafood products have attracted considerable attention as important sources of nutrients in the human diet. Apart from their delicacy, crustaceans species such as shrimps and crabs consist of protein and amino acids. The present study was conducted to evaluate flesh of both sexes of mantis shrimp, shrimp and crab species with the emphasis on protein and amino acids composition. The results showed that significant differences in protein and amino acid contents were found between sex of each species and among studied crustacean species. Furthermore, the highest protein percentage was recorded in edible muscles of males mantis shrimp (Erugosquilla. Massavensis) followed by crab species (Portunus pelagicus) and shrimp species (Peaneus semisulcatus, Metapenaeus monoceros and Peaneus indicus). Sixteen amino acids have been determined in edible portions of studied crustaceans, among these, nine essential amino acids were histidine, arginine, methionine, leucine isoleucine, lysine, threonine, valine and phenylalanine and seven nonessential amino acids were alanine, glycine, proline, tyrosine, serine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The quantities of amino acids vary considerably within and between species as well as between sexes. The edible muscles of studied crustaceans are enriched in amino acids that in turn open the door to carry out further studies on the mode of action, characterization of the active components and the antioxidant properties of marine crustaceans which may be used in the future as a specific health foods (functional supplements).