Abstract

Biochemical composition of the Caspian Sea red macroalga, Laurencia caspica

Author(s): Neda Mehdipour

Laurencia caspica, a marine macroalga species were analyzed to determine its proximate chemical composition. The investigated species demonstrated high carbohydrate (25.5�±0.20 % dry wt.) protein (22.22�±0.4 % dry wt.), Ash (26.82�±0.31 % dry wt.) and moisture components (12.00�±0.23 % dry wt.) and low lipid content (0.03�±0.05 % dry wt.). Glutamic acid (192.24�±1.4 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) and Aspartic acid (160.77�±1.1 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) were the most abundant free amino acids, while Histidine (21.15�±0.1 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) and Glycine (29.99�±0.3 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) contents were the lowest in the free amino-acid profiles. All essential amino acids were detected in the species tested. Unsaturated fatty acid constituted about 64% of total fatty acids, mainly 8-Octadecenoic acid and saturated fatty acids represented 36% of the total fatty acids (mainly myristic acid). This study was conducted to create a nutritional data for Laurencia caspica in order to popularize its consumption and utilization in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea.