Changes in biogenic amines during iced and ambient temperature storage of tilapia

BACKGROUND: Changes in the biogenic amine content of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) with time during iced and ambient temperature (28 degrees C) storage were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography in a gradient elution system using acetonitrile and water as solvents. RESULTS: The levels of amines in tilapia were significantly low even after a long storage period (18 h under ambient temperature storage and IS days under iced storage). All amines except spermidine and spermine increased with time during both iced and ambient temperature storage. Spermidine and spermine showed a decrease with increasing storage time. CONCLUSION: Being euryhaline (tolerant of a wide range of salinity) in nature, tilapia shows significantly low quantities of biogenic amines even after a long period of ambient temperature or iced storage, unlike most other marine fish. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.