Chemical characterization and potential use of reptile fat from sustainable programs

M. L. LEIVA, PAMELA; E. VALLI, FLORENCIA; I. PIÑA, CARLOS; A. GONZÁLEZ, MARCELA; S. SIMONCINI, MELINA

Ethnobiology and Conservation

Ethnobiology and Conservation

Año: 2022 vol. 11 p. 1 - 12

Reptile meats and fats are used for their medicinal properties and nutritional values perceived throughthe culture of native peoples, though often with no scientific basis. Providing scientific informationabout potential medicinal and nutritional use of reptile fats would be a strategy for the full use of wildanimals, supporting the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. The objective of this studywas to characterize and chemically compare the fat and oil of individuals of Argentine Black and whitetegu (Salvator merianae) and Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) from sustainable use and con-servation programs. In addition, we evaluated the microbiological characteristics and the antimicrobialactivity of the oils obtained by different methods. We used two methodologies to obtain oils, one byfusion extraction and the other by drying-decantation (traditional hunter?s method). We obtained thechemical and microbiological characterization of fat and oil of C. latirostris and S. merianae. All the oilsamples presented less than 10 CFU/ml of all the microorganisms tested. C. latirostris and S. merianaeoil showed nutritional quality parameters that indicate its potential use. Furthermore, S. merianae oilshowed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candidas tropicalis. No inhibition oc-curs for the rest of the microorganisms analyzed. C. latirostris oil did not show antimicrobial activity,although the lipid profile does indicate some anti-inflammatory potential. This study demonstratesthe potential application of the tested oils and confirms the pharmacological basis for the traditionaltherapeutic use of S. merianae oil.