Abstract:Lipid composition of three seashells was analyzed in order to provide the basic data for the high value processing and development of seashells. The total lipids were extracted from Ostrea rivularis, Paphia undulata and Pinctada martensii with methanol and chloroform, the content of cholesterol and phospholipids was analyzed by colourimetry, the neutral lipid and polar lipid were separated by liquidliquid extraction, and the composition and content of fatty acids were analyzed by GCMS. The results are as follows∶the content of crude protein from three seashells is about 10%, the content of crude fat is about 1%, and the content of ash is above 1.3%. The content of cholesterol in crude fat is in the range of 0.07-0.12 mg/g, much lower than 3.55 mg/g of eggs, much lower than 5.40 mg/g of squid, therefore three seashells for human consumption do not involve the danger of high cholesterol intake. The content of phospholipids from three seashells is in the range of 14%-34%, much higher than 6.67% of soybean, but lower than 45.2% of yolk, in addition, phospholipids of seashell are also rich in EPA and DHA, therefore seashell phospholipids have a high nutritional value. The content of polar lipid in crude fat is in the range of 27%-45%, the content of neutral lipid is in the range of 51%-62%, and polar lipid composition is mainly phospholipids. The 30 kinds of fatty acids are detected from seashells lipid, the characteristics of fatty acid composition are similar in total lipid, neutral lipid and polar lipid, and the total content of saturated fatty acid is in the range of 32%-44%, mainly C14∶0, C16∶0 and C18∶0; the total content of monounsaturated fatty acid is the range of 9%-17%, mainly C16∶1, C18∶1 and C20∶1; the total content of polyunsaturated fatty acid is in the range of 41%-50%, mainly C20∶3, C20∶5(EPA), C22∶2 and C22∶5(DHA), especially the content of EPA and DHA is in the range of 15%-28%. The content of EPA in Ostrea rivularis and Paphia undulata is higher than that of DHA; the content of DHA in Pinctada martensi is higher than that of EPA. Therefore, Pinctada martensii is suitable for developing the functional food of healthy brain and prevention of Alzheimer′s, and Ostrea rivularis and Paphia undulata are suitable for developing the functional food of prevention of cardiovascular disease.