Fb. Whitfield et al., DISTRIBUTION OF BROMOPHENOLS IN SPECIES OF OCEAN FISH FROM EASTERN AUSTRALIA, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 46(9), 1998, pp. 3750-3757
Thirty-two species of ocean fish from eastern Australia were analyzed
by GC/MS for the key flavor components 2- and 4-bromophenol, 2,4- and
2,6-dibromophenol, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol. With the exception of one
species, bromophenols were found in all species of benthic carnivores
, diverse omnivores, and restricted omnivores but were not detected in
five species of pelagic carnivores. The total bromophenol content in
whole fish varied greatly between species from not detected to 438 ng/
g. Separate analysis of the gut and flesh showed that the gut containe
d the bulk of the bromophenols, supporting opinions that these compoun
ds were derived from components of the fishes' natural diets. The pape
r discusses likely dietary sources of bromophenols in Australian fish,
arguing that polychaetes are major sources of bromophenols in benthic
carnivores and diverse omnivores, and marine algae are sources of bro
mophenols in restricted omnivores. The importance of bromophenols in t
he flavor of Australian ocean fish is also discussed.