proximate-composition-of-some-selected-seaweeds-from-palk-bay-and-gulf-of-mannar-tamilnadu-india

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
e-ISSN: 2249-622X
*Corresponding author: Rameshkumar S | School of Energy, Environment and Natural resources, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu
| Email: srameshkumar71@hotmail.com
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Proximate composition of some selected seaweeds from Palk bay and Gulf of Mannar,
Tamilnadu, India
Rameshkumar S* Ramakritinan CM, Yokeshbabu M
School of Energy, Environment and Natural resources, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu
ABSTRACT
The Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay of South East Coast are rich in seaweed
resources. Seaweeds are one of the important marine living renewable
resources and are used for human consumption, animal feed and as manure
in several countries. So, some of the representatives from Chlorophyta,
Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta were investigated in the present study for
biochemical composition. The macroalgae showed varied quantities of
biochemical constituent are namely Amino acids, Proteins, Lipids,
Carbohydrates and Phenol. High concentration of Glutamic acid and Aspartic
acid was recorded in red algae Acanthopora spicefera 17.4 % and 15.7%
respectively and lowest value of Methionine was recorded in all species
except Chnoospora minima (3.1%). Highest protein was recorded in
Acanthopora spicefera 18.9% and low value was recorded in brown algae
Padina gymnospora (10.5%). Lipid content was high in green algae Caulerpa
recemosa (19.1%) and low value in Ulva faciata (0.5%). Carbohydrate content
was high in green algae Caulerpa racemosa 83.2% and low in Chnoospora
minima 28.5%. In phenol the highest value in Acanthopora spicefera and
lowest in Caulerpa racemosa 14.3%.
Keywords: Proximate composition, Seaweeds, Gulf of Mannar & Palk Bay,
India.
1. INTRODUCTION
Marine macroalgae, commonly referred to seaweeds, are
categorized by their pigmentation, morphology, anatomy,
and nutritional composition as red (Rhodophyta), brown
(Phaeophyta) or green seaweeds (Chlorophyta) [1]. About
250 macro algal species have been commercially utilized
worldwide and about 150 species are favorably consumed
as human food [2]. Seaweeds are valuable sources of
protein, fiber, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids,
macro and trace elements, as well as important bioactive
compounds [3]. Thus, they have been recognized as being
beneficial for human and animal health [4]. However the
nutrient compositions of seaweeds are different
depending on species, habitats, maturity and
environmental conditions [5]. Generally, green and red
seaweeds contain higher protein contents (10–30% DW,
dry weight) than brown seaweeds (5–15% DW). Proteins
are composed of various amino acids and their nutritional
quality can be evaluated against the recommended amino
acid pattern [6-8]. The lipid content of marine seaweeds
accounts for 1–6% DW and provides a low amount of
energy.
Most seaweed has more ash contents than terrestrial
plants and animal products. Some of the trace elements in
seaweeds are rare or absent in terrestrial plants [9]. Thus,
seaweeds are important sources of elements vital for the
metabolic reactions in the human and animal health, such
as enzymatic regulation of lipid, carbohydrate and protein
metabolism [10 & 11]. In the Southern coast of Thailand,
especially in the Pattani Bay, twelve seaweed species have
been found [12]. Red seaweed (Gracilaria spp.) and green
seaweed (Ulva spp.) have been abundant in the coastal
area. However, the utilization of seaweeds is restricted to
Received:
19th Jan 2013
Received in revised form:
10th Feb 2013
Accepted:
15th Feb 2013
Available online:
25th feb 2013
Online ISSN 2249–622X
http://www.jbiopharm.com

Rameshkumar S.: Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 3(16) 2012, 1-5
© Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, all rights reserved. Volume 3, Issue 16, 2012
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communities living in the coastal area. Gracilaria
tenuistipitata and G. fisheri have been served fresh or
used in dried products for both human beings and
animals, whereas Ulva species are still under-utilized
because in Thailand the knowledge about their nutritional
composition is still limited. Therefore the present study
aimed to determine the chemical composition, amino
acids, and element contents of Ulva pertusa and U.
intestinalis collected from the Pattani Bay in rainy and
summer seasons in order to gain extensive information
about their nutritional value. Furthermore, this research
also investigated some physicochemical properties in
order to evaluate their physiological effects in functional
and health food. Seaweeds are generally macroscopic
algae and are used in many ways. They are harvested for
food, fodder, fertilizer, medicine and chiefly for
economically important phycocolloids [13 &14]. The
nutritional property of seaweeds from some regions of the
world and Indian coast has been well documented [15-17]
Climate and sea conditions may cause variations in
nutrient composition of seaweeds [18 & 19]. The aim of
the present investigation was to study the proximate
constituents of five species of seaweeds with potential
economic value for use in human and animal nutrition.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Collection of seaweeds
The seaweeds Caulerpa racemosa, Padina gymnospora
and Acanthopora spicifera were collected from
Mandapam coastal regions, Gulf of Mannar and Ulva
faciata, Choospora minima were collected from S.P
Pattinam and Jagatha Pattinam respectively, Palk Bay in
Southeast coast of India. Seaweed sample was picked with
hand and immediately washed with seawater to remove
the foreign particles, sand particles and epiphytes. Then it
was kept in an ice box containing slush ice and
immediately transported to the laboratory and washed
thoroughly using tap water to remove the salt on the
surface of the sample. Then the seaweeds were spread on
blotting paper to remove excess water. Samples were
dried in oven at 37° C, till constant weight and obtained
and ground in an electric mixer [20]. The powdered
samples were than stored in refrigerator.
2.2. Preliminary Phytochemical screening
The dried, powdered samples were subjected to
qualitative tests for the identification of phytochemical
constituents according to standard procedures [21-23].
2.3. Estimation of amino acids
Amino acid analysis was carried out by ion-exchange
chromatography under the experimental conditions
recommended for protein hydrolysates. Samples
containing 5.0 mg of protein were acid hydrolyzed with
1.0 ml of 6 N HCl in vacuum-sealed hydrolysis vials at
110°C for 22 h. Norleucine was added to the HCl as an
internal standard. Tryptophan, cystine and cysteine are
completely lost by acid hydrolysis, and methionine can be
destroyed to varying degrees by this procedure.
Hydrolysates were suitable for analysis of all other amino
acids. The tubes were cooled after hydrolysis,
Opened, and placed in desiccators containing NaOH
pellets under vacuum until dry (5–6 days). The residue was
then dissolved in a suitable volume of a sample dilution
Na-S buffer, pH 2.2 (Beckman Instr.), filtered through a
Millipore membrane (0.22 μm pore size) and analyzed for
amino acids by ion-exchange chromatography in a
Beckman (model 7300) instrument, equipped with an
automatic integrator. Nitrogen in amino acids was
determined by multiplying the concentration of individual
amino acids by corresponding factors calculated from the
percentage N of each amino acid [24]. The ammonia
content was included in the calculation of protein nitrogen
retrieval, as it comes from the degradation of some amino
acids during acid hydrolysis [25 &26]. The ammonia
nitrogen content was calculated by the multiplication of
ammonia by 0.824 (NH3 = 82.4% of N).
2.4. Estimation of Lipid
The lipid was estimated by using chloroform methanol
mixture as described by [27]. 10 mg of dried powder
sample taken in a test tube, 5 ml of chloroform- methanol
(2:1) mixture was added. The mixture was incubated at
room temperature for 24hrs after closing the mouth of the
test tube with aluminium foil. After the incubation, the
mixture was filtered using a filter paper. The filtrate was
collected in a 10 ml pre weighed beaker, which was kept
on a hot plate. The chloroform methanol mixture was
evaporated leaving a residue at the bottom of the beaker.
The beaker with the residue and the weight of the empty
beaker was calculated to know the weight of the lipid
present in the sample.
2.5. Estimation of proteins
The protein was estimated by Biurette method [28]. To 5
mg of dried powdered sample, 1ml of distilled water
followed by 4ml of biurette reagent were added and
incubated for 30 minutes in the room temperature. Then
the mixture was centrifuged for 10 minutes at 4000rpm.
The supernatant solution was collected and the optical
density was measured in a Spectrophotometer at 540 nm.
2.6. Estimation of Carbohydrates: The total carbohydrate
was estimated by following the Phenol-sulphuric acid
method by [29].
2.7. Estimation of Phenols:
Total phenolic assay was determined by using Folin-
Ciocalteu assay [30].

Rameshkumar S.: Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 3(16) 2012, 1-5
© Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, all rights reserved. Volume 3, Issue 16, 2012
Page3
Table-1: Protein, Lipid, Carbohydrates and phenol composition of seaweeds. (Quantity % dry weight)
Amino acids
Caulerpa
racemosa
Ulva faciata
Chnoospora
minima
Padina
gymnospora
Acanthopora
spicifera
Aspartic acid
8.3±0.2
10.7±0.3
10.9±0.2
12.7±1.3
15.7±0.6
Alanine
6.9±0.5
9.2±1.3
8.5±0.5
6.7±0.3
5.5±0.3
Arginine
5.9±0.7
6.3±0.7
4.0±0.1
4.7±0.2
5.7±0.3
Glutamic acid
15.3±0.6
11.9±0.5
13.2±0.4
13.9±1.2
17.4±0.6
Glycine
7.2±0.9
6.2±0.2
5.6±0.3
7.0±0.7
4.3±0.2
Histidine
3.3±1.0
3.3±0.5
2.6±0.2
2.7±0.5
2.2±0.4
Isoleucine
3.8±0.2
3.2±0.2
4.6±0.3
5.3±0.6
3.6±0.2
Leucine
7.8±0.4
8.6±1.0
7.3±0.3
7.9±0.4
7.8±0.6
Lysine
7.1±0.9
5.9±0.7
6.4±0.5
6.2±0.4
8.6±0.8
Methionine
1.8±0.9
1.3±0.4
3.1±0.3
1.5±0.5
1.2±0.3
Phenylalanine
5.2±0.2
5.5±0.5
4.7±0.2
5.3±0.3
5.3±0.4
Proline
5.8±1.1
3.9±0.1
4.3±0.3
4.0±0.5
5.7±0.7
Serine
7.2±1.1
6.7±0.5
6.7±0.7
6.7±0.4
4.3±0.1
Threonine
6.7±1.5
4.9±0.4
5.4±0.3
5.7±0.3
5.9±0.1
Tyrosine
2.2±0.4
4.7±0.5
2.5±0.4
2.9±0.6
3.7±0.3
Valine
6.9±0.8
6.3±0.6
5.3±0.5
6.5±0.6
6.1±0.5
Table-2: Amino acid composition of seaweeds:
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Totally five seaweeds were collected from east coast of
India, during the month of September 2011 and
estimated their nutritive properties viz. Amino acids,
proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and phenol [Table 1 & 2].
Measurable differences in nutritional composition were
apparent among the five species studied. Amino acids,
protein, lipid, carbohydrates and phenol are the most
important biochemical components in marine algae and
their results are given in the [Table: 1&2] Proteins have
crucial functions in all the biological processes. Their
activities can be described by enzymatic catalysis,
transport and storage, mechanical sustentation control. In
the present study, Data of total amino acids are presented
in Table-2. In all 16 amino acids have been detected in the
protein hydrolysate of seaweeds. These amino acids may
occur as combined or in a free state [31-33]. The
distribution pattern of these amino acids reveals some
pronounced differences among the species of of
Rhodophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Chlorophyceae.
Glutamic acid and aspartic was the most abundant amino
acid in all species. The percentage of methionine was
found to be low in all species. When focusing on individual
species, wider differences were found. For example, the
highest concentration of glutamic acid and aspartic acid
was found in the red alga Acanthopora spicifera 17.4%
and15.7% respectively, while the green alga Ulva faciata
11.9% and Caulerpa racemosa 8.3% had the lowest
concentrations. Metionine was the lowest value of amino
acids in all species except in Chnoospora minima (3.1%)
which the lowest value was tyrosine 2.5 %. protein
content showed remarkable variation, with highest value
of 18.9% in Acanthopora spicefera (Rhodophyceae)
followed by 18.3% in Caulerpa racemosa (Chlorophyceae)
and 14.7% in Ulva faciata (Chlorophyceae). The protein
content of Brown algae (Chnoospora minima and Padina
gymnospora) was low compared to green and red algae.
This is in agreement with the findings of higher protein
content in species of Rhodophyta, moderate in
Chlorophyta and the lowest in Phaeophyta [34] Also
observed maximum protein content in some of the
Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta belonging to the genus of
Ulva.
Nutritiona
l
constituti
on
Caulerpa
racemos
a
Ulva
facia
ta
Chnoosp
ora
minima
Padina
gymnosp
ora
Acanthop
ora
spicefera
Protein
18.3
14.7
11.3
10.5
18.9
Lipids
19.1
0.5
0.9
11.4
2.1
Carbohydr
ates
83.2
70.1
28.5
38.3
65.6
Phenol
14.3
18.1
19.7
32.3
34.7

Rameshkumar S.: Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 3(16) 2012, 1-5
© Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, all rights reserved. Volume 3, Issue 16, 2012
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Lipids are rich in –C=O-bonds, providing much more
energy in oxidation processes than other biological
compounds. They constitute a convenient storage
material for living organisms. In macro algae, the lipids are
widely distributed, especially in several resistance stages
[35]. In the present study 19.1 %, 11.4 % and 2.1 % of lipid
was recorded in Caulerpa racemosa, Padina gymnospora
and Acanthopora spicefera respectively.
Carbohydrate is one of the important components for
metabolism and it supplies the energy needed for
respiration and other most important processes. The
concentration of carbohydrate was higher in most the
species of Chlorophyata followed by Rhodophyta and
Phaeophyta. The carbohydrate content was 83.2 % in
Caulerpa racemosa followed by Ulva lactuca (70.1 %) and
Acanthopora spicifera (65.6%). [36] Studied two
species of green algae Enteromorpha intenstinalis and
reported the highest average total carbohydrate content
from Ulva rigida (63.04±29.15g/kg dry weight). [35].
Phenols are the aromatic metabolites which trigger
various biochemical processes of the organisms. They
consist of hydroxide groups which are widespread in
photosynthetic organisms. The highest phenol content
was observed in Acanthopora spicefera (34.7%) followed
by Padina gymnospora (32.3%) and Chnoospora minima
(19.7%). Similar results were also obtained by [37].
Seaweeds can be considered as promising plants of the
future forming one of the important marine living
resources of high nutritional value. Being plants with
unique structure and biochemical composition, seaweeds
could be exploited for their various properties in the form
of food, energy, medicine and cosmetics and as
biotechnological tools.
4. CONCLUSION
From the present study, it is evident that marine macro
algae like Caulerpa racemosa, Ulva faciata, Chnoospora
minima, Padina gymnospora and Acanthopora spicefera
are rich in nutritive properties. The values obtained for
protein and carbohydrate contents in the present study
are similar to the earlier findings by [15], [38]. The value
of protein content is high in Acanthopora spicefera and
Caulerpa racemosa and the carbohydrate concentration is
high in Caulerpa racemosa, Ulva faciata and Acanthopora
spicefera. The high lipid value was observed in the green
algae Caulerpa racemosa and brown alga Padina
gymnospora. The present findings will be useful to collect
the selected seaweeds from South east coast of India and
use them in the food and pharmaceutical industries for
various purposes.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to DR. A.K Kumara guru, senior
professor, Department of Marine and coastal studies,
Madurai Kamaraj University, for helping us in obtaining
the standard laboratory bacterial cultures. We would
thankful to Dr. S.K. Subramanian H.O.D. Department of
botany, Thiagarajar College, Madurai for valuable
comments on the manuscript.
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