Fatty acids profile of the dromedary hump fat in algeria

The fatty acid composition of hump fat stemming from 43 Algerian camels (Camelus dromedarius),1 to 13 years old, both sexes, belonging to Sahraoui and Tergui breeds, was determined. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) represented 64.4% (weight basis) of total fatty acids, while the monounsaturated (MFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fractions accounted for 33.1 and 2.5%, respectively. The main saturated fatty acids, namely palmitic and stearic acids represented 49.6% and 38.8 % of SFA (31.5% and 25.5% of total fatty acids). Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) were mainly represented by oleic acid, 78.1% of MFA (25.9% of total fatty acids), linoleic acid which accounted for 88.5% of omega 6 (1.17% of total fatty acids) and linolenic acid accounting for 63.9% of omega(3) (0.42% out of total fatty acids). SFA/PUFA was 0.039 and omega(6)/omega(3), 2.81. The levels of fatty acids, SFA and MFA were significantly higher in females, while the contents in omega(6), omega(3), CLA, PUFA, as well as the PUFA / SFA and omega(6)/omega(3) ratio were comparable in relation to both sexes. When reported to the breeds, the contents in MFA, PUFA and omega(6) was higher in Sahraoui, as the cod omega(6)/omega(3), ratio was. The percentage of SFA, however, was higher in Tergui.