Egg Oil Research Articles

The beneficial effects of virgin olive oil against oxidative stress induced by hypercholesterolemia in rats

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of mortality in the world, typically claiming a third of all deaths. The primary cause of CVD is atherosclerosis. Therefore, timely prevention and therapy of atherosclerosis are able to reduce the risk of the development of its clinical manifestations. Anti-atherosclerotic activity of medicinal plants mainly appears in their multiple effects. This study was carried out to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of virgin olive oil in experimentally induced hyperlipemic Wistar. A total of 24 rats were randomly allocated to 4 equal groups and treated as follows for 50 days: (1) Normal control (NC); that were fed with a standart diet; (2) High Cholesterol Diet Control (HCD); which received high cholesterol diet for 50 days; (3) Animals receiving high cholesterol diet for 50 days, after this period the animals are fed for eight days by the standard food and receiving by gavage virgin olive oil (HCD+VOO) and (4) Animals fed for eight days with the standard food and receiving by gavage olive oil (VOO). High Cholesterol Diet containing yolk egg and coconut oil. Results showed that olive oil caused a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in serum levels of Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low–Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL) and Atherogenic Index Serum (AIS). The results also demonstrated a significant (p < 0.01) increase in High–Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL). Moreover, virgin olive oil induced a significant reduction in liver lipid content. On the other hand, a High cholesterol diet induced oxidative stress was measured by estimating reduced glutathione level and amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formed as an index of lipid peroxidation in a liver and a heart. Virgin olive oil supplementation attenuated all these variations. Our observations of the study indicate that the virgin olive oil has a significant antihyperlipidemic potential.

Development and Evaluation of a Broad spectrum Polyherbal Sunscreen formulation using Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Safranal.

UV absorption properties of bioactive agents has led to their screening and development to provide photoprotection. Safranal is one such secondary plant metabolite obtained from Saffron (Crocus sativus) and reported to possess antioxidant and antisolar properties. The objective of this research was to design a suitable delivery system for the topical delivery of Safranal and to develop broad-spectrum polyherbal sun protection cream with mild photoprotection. Safranal-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were formulated using probe sonication technique. The effect of variables like lipid concentration, surfactant concentration, and stirring time was studied using central composite design using Design Expert 7.0 (Stat-Ease, Inc., USA). These SLN were combined with zinc oxide, pearl powder, Pterocarpus santalinus, a natural colorant with skin whitening effect and dispersed in a dermatological acceptable carrier with excellent skin-nourishing properties. Other natural ingredients namely almond oil, hen egg oil, and aloe vera gel were also incorporated due to their sun protection properties. Particle size analysis of prepared SLN revealed the particles in the range of 460-980nm (F9). Entrapment efficiency was found between 88% and 99%. SLN was further characterized by techniques like DSC, FTIR, and TEM. Evaluation of sunscreen cream by transmittance method showed good texture, excellent rheological properties, optimum pH, and stability. The developed product showed broad spectrum of sunscreen protection with SPF 9.22, UV-A ++, and *** Boot Star Rating. The significant inhibitory activity of Safranal on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) analyzed by biochemical investigation method and a higher SPF established that this bioorganic molecule is a strong photoprotective agent. Designing solid lipid nanoparticles and incorporation of other traditional ingredients in the recipe augmented its antisolar property and provided an all natural sunscreen.

Investigation of Fixed Oil of Gallus gallus domesticus for Various Pharmacological Activities

Medicinal oils, including fixed and essential oils, are one of the most ancient forms of medicines. Animals and plants are the major source of fixed oils which have been reported to treat various ailments, such as urinary, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal disorders, bacterial, fungal and protozoal infections etc. Medicinal oils, especially of animal origin are; however, ignored and rarely investigated in contemporary modern medical research. This study was aimed to investigate the various pharmacological activities of fixed oil of Gallus gallus domesticus (Egg oil, Fo.Gg). Fo.Gg was investigated for its wound healing potential by using excisional wound model, anti-arthritic activity by following turpentine oil-induced acute arthritis model, antipyretic activity by yeast-induced pyrexia, anxiolytic activity by adopting hole board, light/dark exploration and elevated plus maze models, antidepressant activity by forced swim test and tail suspension model and antiamnesic activity by Y-maze model. Fo.Gg showed significant healing potential as evident from increase in percent wound contraction and decrease in period of epithelialization and also the significant decrease in paw and ankle joint diameter in anti-arthritic activity. It showed dose-dependent (i.e. 10, 30 and 50%) decrease in rectal temperature when compared to the control group, also showed significant anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-amnesic activities. These pharmacological activities may be attributed to the antioxidant as well as radical scavenging potential of oil components especially polyphenols, oleic acid and linoleic acid. Thus, the results of the study conclude that egg oil possesses wound healing, anti-arthritic, antipyretic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-amnesic potential. The study provides scientific ground for the folkloric use of the oil in traditional system of medicine; however, further studies are required to explore the possible mechanism(s) of action.

Investigation of Fixed Oil of Gallus gallus domesticus for Various Pharmacological Activities

Medicinal oils, including fixed and essential oils, are one of the most ancient forms of medicines. Animals and plants are the major source of fixed oils which have been reported to treat various ailments, such as urinary, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal disorders, bacterial, fungal and protozoal infections etc. Medicinal oils, especially of animal origin are; however, ignored and rarely investigated in contemporary modern medical research. This study was aimed to investigate the various pharmacological activities of fixed oil of Gallus gallus domesticus (Egg oil, Fo.Gg). Fo.Gg was investigated for its wound healing potential by using excisional wound model, anti-arthritic activity by following turpentine oil-induced acute arthritis model, antipyretic activity by yeast-induced pyrexia, anxiolytic activity by adopting hole board, light/dark exploration and elevated plus maze models, antidepressant activity by forced swim test and tail suspension model and antiamnesic activity by Y-maze model. Fo.Gg showed significant healing potential as evident from increase in percent wound contraction and decrease in period of epithelialization and also the significant decrease in paw and ankle joint diameter in anti-arthritic activity. It showed dose-dependent (i.e. 10, 30 and 50%) decrease in rectal temperature when compared to the control group, also showed significant anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-amnesic activities. These pharmacological activities may be attributed to the antioxidant as well as radical scavenging potential of oil components especially polyphenols, oleic acid and linoleic acid. Thus, the results of the study conclude that egg oil possesses wound healing, anti-arthritic, antipyretic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-amnesic potential. The study provides scientific ground for the folkloric use of the oil in traditional system of medicine; however, further studies are required to explore the possible mechanism(s) of action.

Fatty acid composition and spawning quality in wild and captive broodstock of Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru

The Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) is very popular fishery that reaches high prices in the market that is distributed in tropical and subtropical climates. Most studies in fatty acid requirements for larval production are done in temperate species; in general, warm-water fish are given the same levels of DHA and EPA than cold-water fish, which increases considerably the costs of production, without apparent benefit. We analyzed spawns during lecithotrophic development, with emphasis on fatty acids, of L. peru. Three origins were compared, Wild spawns, used as the standard of better-quality larvae, Laboratory and Pond, each with some differences in the inductions of maturation and broodstock diet: Lab and Pond broodstock were fed sardines and squids and DHA-rich oil capsules were added once a week. A total of 87 spawns were sampled throughout three years of sampling. Egg and oil globule diameters before fertilization, in 1-h embryo (E) and before hatching (LE); larval total length and oil globule diameter at hatching (LH), and after 24 (L24h) and 48 h (L48h) were measured. Hatching and survival percentages were measured in triplicate for each spawn. Hatching were significantly higher from Pond spawns (75.7%) compared to Wild (60.8%). Survival at L48 hours was not significantly different among origins. Wild spawns had significantly more carbohydrates, but less phospholipids during development, compared to Lab and Pond spawns. ARA, EPA and DHA concentrations decreased in total lipids and triglycerides, but in Lab spawns they were accumulated in phospholipids. There was a more variable fatty acid composition in Pond spawns compared to Lab spawns, a result of more diversified diet in ponds. Viable eggs had two-fold higher proportion of ARA compared to non-viable eggs. A principal factor analysis revealed three positive associations between 1) female weight, egg oil globule diameter, and EPA:ARA in egg PL; 2) hatching, LH length, and DHA:ARA in egg PL; 3) L48h survival, TG and PL content in eggs. According to our results, subtropical L. peru needs less DHA and more ARA and monounsaturated fatty acids in their diet, compared to temperate marine fish.

Investigation of Chemical and Physical Properties of Seven Types of Edible Oils of District Mansehra with Respect to the Recommended Standards

This research was aimed to assess the physicochemical properties of seven edible oils, i.e., almond oil, castor oil, cooking oil, mustard oil, pumpkin oil, black seed oil and egg oil collected from local market, Mansehra. Their chemical and physical properties were also compared to the recommended levels set as a standard by WHO/FAO to find out whether they are suitable and safe to be used by human beings. Among the chemical characteristics, acid values, saponification values and peroxide values were determined while the physical properties that were studied included density, specific gravity, refractive index, moisture content and viscosity. All these assays were performed using standardized assays/protocols. From the results, it can be illustrated that most of the physicochemical parameters are in line with the standard values as evident from the results. However, some value shows deviation, for instance, the acid values of all studied oil samples except almond oil, cooking oil and pumpkin oil exceed the recommended value of 0.6. In addition, the saponification value of almond oil and black seed oil, while peroxide value of pumpkin oil are above the recommended range. So, it can be concluded that most of these oils whose studied parameters are according to permissible limits are safe for human consumption.

A Rapid Gas Chromatographic Method for Direct Determination of Free Sterols in Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils

In this study, a rapid and simple method without a derivatization process for determination of the free sterols in vegetable and animal oils was developed. A direct injection gas chromatography with a non-polar megabore column (DB-1, 5 m × 0.53 mm, 1μm) was used. The recoveries of cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol from lard were at the range of 89%-106% with a coefficient of variation less than 12%. Total sterols were determined using the same method after saponification of the oil sample. Fourteen samples, including olive oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, lard and egg yolk oil, were quantitatively analyzed for total and free sterols. The contents of total cholesterol, brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmastenol and Δ7-avenasterol in test samples were at the range of 193-34384, 0-1222, 0-2356, 0-1365, 0-5414, 0-608, 0-1296 and 0-129 μg/g, respectively; while the contents of free cholesterol, brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmastenol and Δ7-avenasterol were 98-30340, 0-1057, 0-634, 0-724, 0-3087, 0-404, 0-558 and 0-23 μg/g, respectively. The amounts of esterified sterols were calculated by subtracting the free sterol contents from total sterol contents. Results showed olive oil, sunflower oil and peanut oil primarily contain esterified sterols; while soybean oil, sesame oil, lard and egg oil contain mostly free sterols. The developed method is recommended as a rapid method to determine if animal fats/oils are adulterated with vegetable oils.

Egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus alleviated obesity and regulated gut microbiota in mice

Egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus (Pt-egg oil) can overcome insulin resistance resulting from abundant bioactive lipids. However, its effects on obesity and gut microbiota were unclear. Here, we evaluated whether Pt-egg oil could improve obesity and gut microbiota or not in high-fat diet feeding mice. Results exhibited that Pt-egg oil markedly reduced body weight and adipose weight gain, improved lipid accumulation and circulatory cytokines, inhibited epididymal adipose cell size. Moreover, Pt-egg oil modified gut microbiota, involving decreases in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and increase in Verrucomicrobia phylum. Pt-egg oil reduced serum and fecal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and down-regulated Toll-like receptor 4 pathway in both epididymal adipose and liver tissues. Meanwhile, Pt-egg oil increased short chain fatty acids and up-regulated of G-protein-coupled receptors in both epididymal adipose and liver tissues. These suggest that Pt-egg oil could be alternative food supplement for the prophylactic effects on anti-obesity and improvement in human gut health.

Implementation of Quality by Design (QbD) approach in development of silver sulphadiazine loaded egg oil organogel: An improved dermatokinetic profile and therapeutic efficacy in burn wounds

Silver Sulphadiazine (SSD) is an effective antibacterial agent considered as the gold standard for burn wound treatment. The present study aimed to investigate EO-based organogel (SSD-EOOG) as an effective carrier system for SSD delivery in burn wound management employing Quality by Design (QbD) paradigm. The organogel-based formulations were prepared employing QbD-oriented approach and further evaluated for in vivo efficacy and stability. The developed formulations were characterized for particle size, drug content, morphology, in vitro drug release, skin safety studies, ex vivo permeation, skin retention, textural analysis and pharmacodynamic studies in murine burn wound model. I-optimal mixture design was employed for optimization and evaluating different critical quality attributes (CQAs). The optimized formulation exhibited particle size of 256.5nm with enhanced permeation (72.33±1.73%) and retention (541.20±22.16µg/cm2) across skin barrier as compared to SSD-MKT. The pharmacodynamic results proved superior therapeutic efficacy of SSD-EOOG in topical burn wounds inflicted with MRSA bacterium. The results indicated wound contraction rate (78.23±5.65%) and faster re-epithelialization in SSD-EOOG treated group. The present study concluded that egg oil based organogel promoted therapeutic efficacy of SSD for burn wound treatment.

Effect of boiling on fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of hen, duck, and quail egg oils

The palmitic acid contents of control groups varied between 22.96% (duck) and 25.09% (hen), while that of boiled egg oils are found between 22.93% (duck) and 23.72% (quail). Oleic acid contents of control group oils changed between 43.04% (quail) and 64.91% (duck) while that of boiled egg oils vary between 43.18% (quail) and 64.17% (duck). Linoleic acid contents of control groups and boiled egg oils changed between 4.34% (duck) and 23.24% (quail) to 5.31% (duck) and 19.81% (quail), respectively. While DL-α-tocopherol contents of raw (control) egg oils change between 16.92 mg/100 g (hen) and 26.16 mg/100 g (quail), DL-α-tocopherol contents of boiled egg oils were found between 20.47 mg/100 g (hen) and 72.26 mg/100 g (quail). β-Tocopherol contents of raw egg and boiled egg oils were determined between 8.46 mg/100 g (hen) and 10.41 mg/100 g (duck) to 9.10 (hen) and 13.25 mg/100 g (quail), respectively. γ-Tocopherol contents of boiled egg oils changed between 3.27 mg/100 g (duck) and 7.43 mg/100 g (quail). Practical applications Eggs are consumed as breakfast foods, preparation of home meal, and also used as food ingredients. Among eggs from birds, those from hen and duck are the most common and also highly nutritious. Recently, there is an increase in the demand of functional foods by consumers that can prevent several diseases. Egg yolk oils are rich in bioactive compounds like unsaturated fatty acids, pigments, and oil-soluble vitamins.

Egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus alleviates insulin resistance through activation of insulin signaling in mice.

Marine bioactive lipids have been utilized to overcome insulin resistance. However, oil from swimming crab has never been studied. Here, we analyzed the constituents of egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus (Pt-egg oil) and investigated its protective effects against insulin resistance in mice on a high-fat diet. The results showed that Pt-egg oil contained 52.05% phospholipids, 8.61% free fatty acids (especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), 32.38% triglyceride, 4.79% total cholesterol, and ditissimus astaxanthin. Animal experiments showed that Pt-egg oil significantly mitigated insulin resistance and was associated with reductions in blood glucose, insulin, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, serum lipids, and hepatic glycogen. Pt-egg oil activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glucose transporter 4 pathway in skeletal muscle both at the transcriptional level and at the translational level. Pt-egg oil also promoted hepatic glycogen synthesis through activation of the PI3K/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta pathway. These indicate that Pt-egg oil can be used as an alternative to marine bioactive lipids to improve insulin resistance.

Role of Egg Oil in Cosmetics: An Icing on a Cake

Egg oil is natural oil extracted from standard hen eggs and is a useful constituent of cosmetics and cosmeceuticals, and acts as an anti-oxidant, moisturizer, penetration enhancer, emollient, skin conditioner, and as anti-bacterial agent etc. An important property of egg oil is that, it does not contain egg proteins and thus, is useful for individuals allergic to eggs or its related products especially for therapeutic dermatological applications. Although, with time there is much advancement in the treatment options but these are costly and beyond the budget of common people. Hence, an effective, safe, non-toxic, soothing, and topically applied natural essential oil is the need of the hour. Egg oil is extracted from eggs by different means such as with the help of heat, solvent and cold process. Extracted egg oil can be utilized further in various cosmetics formulations used in hair, skin, nails etc and can be explored in the preparation of various topical delivery systems such as liposomes and microemulsions. Egg oil outlines a light protective barrier on the surface of skin which prevents the loss of moisture, and devoid the clogging of skin pores. Egg oil presence in hair care formulations provides nourishing and conditioning effect. This review article discusses the physicochemical properties of egg oil, its composition, various extraction methods, dermatological applications, commercial sources and patents signifying the tremendous potential of egg oil in cosmetics.

Characterization of pigments and binders in a mural painting from the Andean church of San Andr\xe9s de Pachama (northernmost of Chile)

The Andean church of San Andrés de Pachama is located in the highland of the northernmost of Chile, near the limit with Bolivia and next to the Ruta de la Plata. This commercial route contributed in the past to the transport and commerce of various raw materials, such as silver, from the Andean mountains region to the Pacific Ocean coast and then to the European market. The walls inside the church are decorated with paintings from the end of the eighteenth century that reproduce religious motivs together with flowers, fruits, and birds. In this study, micro samples taken from one of the mural paintings have been analysed to acquire information on the artistic materials and the painting technique previous to the restoration of the paintings. Analysis by micro-Raman spectroscopy complemented with scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection allowed the identification of orpiment, vermilion, indigo, smalt, antlerite, hematite, carmine lake, and wood charcoal as pigments as well as gypsum as the ground layer. Lipidic and proteinaceous materials extracted from the microsamples were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and indicated the use of a mixture of egg and siccative oil as binders and a secco painting technique involving animal glue as the plaster primer. Smalt and the prized cochineal lake are reported for the first time in an Andean colonial mural painting.

7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced cell death, oxidative stress, and fatty acid metabolism dysfunctions attenuated with sea urchin egg oil

Some oxysterols resulting either from enzymatic oxidation or autoxidation of cholesterol are associated with age-related diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. Among these oxysterols, 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7β-OHC) is often found at increased levels in patients. It is therefore important to identify molecules or mixtures of molecules to prevent 7β-OHC-induced side effects. Consequently, murine oligodendrocytes (158N) were cultured in the absence or presence of 7β-OHC (20 μg/mL, 24 h) with or without a natural oil extracted from sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) eggs known for its biological activity. Firstly, the chemical composition of this oil was determined using 31P NMR and GC-MS. Secondly, this oil was used to reduce 7β-OHC-induced side effects. To this end, the oil (160 μg/mL) was added to the culture medium of 158N cells 2 h before 7β-OHC. The effects of 7β-OHC with or without the oil on cell viability were studied with the MTT test. Photometric methods were used to analyze antioxidant enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the generation of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes (CDs)) and protein oxidation product (carbonylated proteins (CPs)). Gas chromatography was used to determine the fatty acid profile. With 7β-OHC, an induction of cell death associated with oxidative stress (alteration of GPx and SOD activities) was observed; an overproduction of lipid peroxidation products (MDA and CDs) and CPs was also revealed. Sea urchin egg oil attenuated 7β-OHC-induced cytotoxicity: 7β-OHC-induced cell death was reduced, GPx and SOD activities were normalized, and lower levels of MDA, CDs and CPs were produced. In addition, whereas a disturbed fatty acid profile was observed with 7β-OHC, similar fatty acid profiles were found in control cells and in cells cultured with 7β-OHC associated with sea urchin egg oil. These data demonstrate the protective activities of sea urchin egg oil against 7β-OHC-induced side effects on 158N cells, supporting the concept that this oil may have benefits in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Synthesis & Characterization of a Novel Cross Linked Bio-based Polyurethane from the Egg Oil

Synthesis & Characterization of a Novel Cross Linked Bio-based Polyurethane from the Egg Oil

Oil content and fatty acid composition of eggs cooked in drying oven, microwave and pan.

In this study, the effect of heating on the oil yield and fatty acid composition of eggs cooked in drying oven, microwave oven, pan and boiled were determined, and compared. The highest oil content (15.22%) was observed for egg cooked in drying oven, while the lowest oil (5.195%) in egg cooked in pan. The cooking in microwave oven caused a decrease in oleic acid content (46.201%) and an increase in the amount of palmitic acid content (26.862%). In addition, the maximum oleic acid (65.837%) and minimum palmitic acid (14.015%) contents were observed in egg oil cooked in pan. Results showed that fatty acids were significantly affected by cooking method. This study confirms that the cooking processing influences the fatty acid composition of egg oils.

The effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog on yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi (Valenciennes, 1833) spawning and egg quality

Communal spawning behaviour in marine aquaculture species often results in a few individuals contributing disproportionate amounts of gametes. This can lead to a reduction in genetic variability and increases the risk of inbreeding among successive generations. Therefore, long term sustainability of captive breeding programmes for such species partly depends upon maintaining a sufficiently high proportion of parents contributing high quality gametes during spawning. The current study was conducted to evaluate if the use of slow-release gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) implants could increase the number of females spawning high quality gametes, and thus increase genetic variation in a captive population of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi (Valenciennes, 1833). Broodstock fish received implants with or without 500μg of GnRHa during the spawning season. GnRHa treatment was associated with a higher proportion of females contributing to spawning. However, compared to eggs from non-GnRHa-treated broodstock, GnRHa significantly decreased the floating rate, fertilisation rate, number of viable eggs and egg oil globule diameter. Overall, the use of slow-release GnRHa implants is a useful tool to increase parental contribution to spawning, but this benefit must be carefully balanced against lower egg quality.

Concentration of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Rana Egg Oil by Urea Complexation and Response Surface Methodology

Concentration of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Rana Egg Oil by Urea Complexation and Response Surface Methodology

Optimization of Extraction Conditions on the Yield of Rana Chensinensis Egg Oil by Statistical Experimental Designs

Rana chensinensis egg oil is extracted from Rana chensinensis. The important variables (extraction temperature, extraction time and the ratio of oviductus ranae egg oil and extraction solvent) were optimized by Box-Behnken central composite design under response surface methodology. The statistical analysis showed that the optimum extraction conditions (extraction temperature 60.62C, extraction time 3.16 h and the ratio of oviductus ranae egg oil and extraction solvent 8.91.) led to a maximum yield (19.3%). The Rana chensinensis egg oil was refined. The developed method has a potential to be used for efficient extraction conditions on the yield of Rana chensinensis egg oil.

The effects of dietary HUFA level on flame angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) spawning, egg quality and early larval characteristics

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) on flame angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) reproduction, and egg and larval quality. In the experiment, formulated diets containing 1.8, 2.9 or 3.6% n-3 HUFA were fed to flame angelfish broodstock (n = 4) for 5 months. Mean fecundity (daily egg production), egg fertilization rates and embryo viability were used as indicators of egg quality. In addition, mean egg diameter, oil globule diameter, per cent hatch, larval size at hatch, per cent survival to yolk exhaustion and larval size at yolk exhaustion were recorded for each treatment. Flame angelfish fed the diet containing 3.6% n-3 HUFA exhibited significantly increased fecundity, fertilization rates and embryo viability than fish that were fed the other two formulated diets. Egg diameter, egg oil globule diameter, larval size at hatch, larval survival to yolk exhaustion and larval size at yolk exhaustion from the 3.6% n-3 HUFA broodstock treatment group were not significantly different from those derived from the Control broodstock treatment. These data revealed that flame angelfish egg quality could respond rapidly (within weeks) to maternal dietary changes. Results from this study further support that dietary HUFA composition can significantly affect broodstock reproductive performance as well as subsequent performance of eggs and larvae.