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Nutritional Quality Fingerprinting of Wild and Farmed Cyprinus carpio: A UHPLC-MS/MS-Based Traceability Strategy
by
,
Lang Zhang
1
,
Wenya Ji
1,2,
Wenwen Suo
3,
Ziwei Song
1,
Wei Yang
4,
Xinbin Duan
1,
Jizhou Lv
5,
Lei Gao
1,
Liting Ye
2,
Zhen Li
1,
Yali Yu
1,* and
Hui Zhang
1,* 1
Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, China
2
College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
3
Hunan Fisheries Research Institute and Aquatic Product Seed Stock Station, Changsha 410153, China
4
Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of River and Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
5
Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biology 2025, 14(12), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121695 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 9 October 2025
/
Revised: 14 November 2025
/
Accepted: 24 November 2025
/
Published: 28 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Simple Summary
To restore ecological balance and sustain fishery resources, a ten-year fishing ban was implemented in the Yangtze River to reduce human impact and support fishery recovery. However, illegal poaching persists, and traditional morphological methods struggle to distinguish between wild and farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Our study compared and analyzed the metabolites in the muscle of wild and farmed common carp in the Yangtze River Basin. Wild common carp have increased purine metabolism substances like xanthine and uric acid, while farmed common carp have higher zearalenone levels, likely due to environmental instability and feed factor. These findings offer potential biomarkers to differentiate between wild and farmed common carp, aiding in efforts to combat illegal fishing.
Abstract
In the context of the ten-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River, illegal poaching for profit persists. To support the enforcement of this ban and protect the river’s ecosystem, an efficient and precise method for distinguishing between wild and farmed common carp is essential. This study utilized ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) combined with metabolomics technology to analyze and compare the metabolic differences between wild and farmed common carp. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed a clear separation between the two groups, which was further verified by metabolic fingerprint profiles. Moreover, 16 metabolites with high discriminatory potential were identified from 491 differentially metabolites, such as phytosphingosine, succinic acid and threonine. In addition, a cluster analysis of the differential metabolites classified them into four classes: peptides, fatty acyls, steroids and steroid derivatives, and glycerophospholipids. Furthermore, candidate biomarkers, including 3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, 3-hydroxyhexanoylcarnitine and jasminoside were identified to potential distinguish wild populations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply metabolomics technology to differentiate wild from farmed common carp, providing a new theoretical basis for ecological restoration efforts in the context of the Yangtze River fishing ban.
