[4060-4072]

The lipid and Fatty Acids composition of the total lipids of the pearl oyster (Pinctada radiate), in different seasons in southern Tunisia east, were analyzedin order to assess and enhance this species. Total fatty acid content (79.61±6.18–400.21±50.12mg/100g of dry tissue) varied during the year, reaching the highest value in winter in coincidence with the increase or high levels of phospholipids (PE and PC) were found in the polar lipids especially in winter. The major FA in the TFA in all seasons were 14:0, 16:0, and 18:0 as saturated FA (saturates); 16:1, 18:1 and C20:1 asmonoenoic FA (monoenes);20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid: AA), 20:5n-3 (EPA), and 22:6n-3 (DHA) as PUFA. The major components found in the polar lipids were 16:0 and 18:0 as saturates; 22:3n-3,22:5n-3,AA, EPA, and DHA as PUFA. It is a marine animal, characteristically high levels ofEPA and DHA were found in both the TFAand phospholipids. P.radiata lipids contain high levels of both n-3 and n-6 PUFA and, more specifically, that EPA and DHA are the characteristic fatty acids in both the TFA and tissuePE and PC of P. radiate Compared to the percentage of (n-6) series fatty acids contained in the TFA of P.radiata, the part of the (n-3) series is more important, yielding n-3/n-6 ratios of respectively 3.12, 3.11, 2.13 and 2.15 in winter, spring, summe