Nutritional Composition and Assessment of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Bory

Abstract

The chemical composition, mineral elements, vitamins, free fatty acids and amino acid content of the edible red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis Bory, grown in the sea near Nan'ao island, Guangdong Province, were analyzed in the present study. Gracilaria lemaneiformis Bory showed a total sugar content of 14.65%. The protein content was 21%, of which approximately 41% was determined to be essential amino acids (EAA). The major amino acid components were glutamic acid, leucine, arginine, and alanine. Of the EAA assayed, methionine and cysteine appeared to be the most limiting amino acids compared with the EAA pattern provided by Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. The total lipids content was 0.87% and comprised a high composition of unsaturated fatty acids (61%), mainly as linoleic acid and oleic acid, and a little amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid; palmitic acid was the main component (39%) of saturated acids. Relatively high levels of vitamin C, iodine, phosphorus, and zinc were also present in G. lemaneiformis. The nutritional composition between G. lemaneiformis and Nostoc flagelliforme, a rare alga that is widely eaten in Chinese society, was compared. The results suggest that N. flagelliforme can be substituted for by G. lemaneiformis, not only because of their similar shape, but also because of their approximate nutritional composition. Gracilaria lemaneiformis may possibly serve as a potential healthy food in human diets in the future.

Evaluation of dried seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis as an ingredient in diets for teleost fish Siganus canaliculatus

“…A preponderance of these complex and structural carbohydrates consists of polysaccharides (Deng and Ji 1995;Matsui et al 2003;Wen et al 2006). A lot of studies have confirmed that algal polysaccharides have antioxidant and antitumor effects and improve immunity of organism (Deng and Ji 1995;Matsui et al 2003;Wen et al 2006).…”

“…A lot of studies have confirmed that algal polysaccharides have antioxidant and antitumor effects and improve immunity of organism (Deng and Ji 1995;Matsui et al 2003;Wen et al 2006). Besides, this may also be caused by large amount of b-carotene and vitamin C in the seaweeds, as previously reported (Satoh et al 1987;Wen et al 2006;Yu et al 2006).…”

“…A lot of studies have confirmed that algal polysaccharides have antioxidant and antitumor effects and improve immunity of organism (Deng and Ji 1995;Matsui et al 2003;Wen et al 2006). Besides, this may also be caused by large amount of b-carotene and vitamin C in the seaweeds, as previously reported (Satoh et al 1987;Wen et al 2006;Yu et al 2006). Furthermore, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of these compounds have been widely reported in seaweeds (Arun umar and Rengasamy 2005; Ballantine et al 1987;Wen et al 2006;Yousif et al 2004).…”

“…Studies revealed that among the many different algal species, Gracilaria is the preferred species of food (Jackson et al 1982;Lundberg 1981;Lundberg and Lipkin 1979;von Westernhagen 1973von Westernhagen , 1974. In recent years, the commercial culture of G. lemaneiformis (GL) has developed rapidly in the coastal areas of southeast China and the yield of GL has increased considerably in the last decade (Wen et al 2006;Yang et al 2006;Yu et al 2006). The market price of dried G. lemaneiformis (DGL) is about ¥3,000-¥3,500 ($450-$525) per ton in region of Shantou, China.…”

Effect of inland saline water ionic profiles on growth, chemical composition and agar characteristics of Gracilaria cliftonii (Withell, Miller and Kraft 1994) under laboratory conditions

“…However, the chemical composition of Gracilaria species is reported for only a few species (Mollet et al 1998;Norziah and Ching 2000;Wong and Cheung 2000;McDermid and Stuercke 2003;Wen et al 2006).…”