13C NMR, GC and HPLC characterization of lipid components of the salted and dried mullet ( Mugil cephalus) roe “bottarga”

13C NMR spectroscopy, in conjunction with HPLC and GC techniques, has been used to study the molecular composition of lipids extracted from commercial products of bottarga. To this goal, both the saponifiable and unsaponifiable fractions of lipid extracts were also examined by 13C NMR. Among the major lipid classes wax esters (WE) showed a concentration of more than 50 mol%, triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) represented a minor fraction. Concentrations up to 29 mol% of free fatty acids (FFA) were found. The most represented fatty alcohol was 16:0 that accounted for more than 50%, among fatty acids the most represented were 16:1 n-7, 22:6 n-3, 18:1 n-9, 16:0, and 20:5 n-3, in particular the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) averaged 40 mg/g of the edible portion. 13C NMR spectroscopy put in evidence that cholesterol was present in its free and esterified forms and its total content was measured as ca. 10 mg/g of the edible portion.