Albumin and enzyme profiles of dwarf snakehead, Channa gachua caught from River Brantas, East Java

Albumin is one of the functional foods needed in the health sector, especially to accelerate the wound healing process, regulate osmotic pressure and as an antioxidant. Snakehead, Channa gachua (Channidae) is one of the main albumin sources from freshwater fish. This study aimed to obtain albumin content and enzyme profile data of snakehead at different size. Fish sample was collected from local river-basin and grouped into three different size categories, < 10 cm total length, 10-15 cm, and > 15 cm total length. Proximate and enzyme activities were analyzed based on AOAC methods. Albumin extraction was based on acid solvent extraction. Results of analysis showed that crude protein and lipid content varied between 65.0-71.4%, and 1.08-2.13%, respectively. Crude protein content was significantly increasing at bigger fish size, vice versa with lipid content. The protease and lipase activities varied between 14.31-23.01 μmol g-1 min-1 and 298-423 μmol g-1 min-1, respectively. These both enzyme activities were significantly increasing as fish size increased. However, there was no different of albumin content at fish size < 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm. Protein content and enzyme activities both determine the albumin content of the fish. To gain higher albumin content from snakehead, fish should be harvested at size larger than 15 cm total length.