Identification and chemical studies of pelagic masses of Sargassum natans (Linnaeus) Gaillon and S. fluitans (Borgessen) Borgesen (brown algae), found offshore in Ondo State, Nigeria

The pelagic seaweed found offshore and negatively impacting fishing activity in Ondo State Nigeria, has been identified to be a mixture of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans which presumably floated from the Sagasso Sea of North Atlantic. In a bid to harness the potential uses of the seaweed biomass, the mixed Sargassum species were analyzed for the proximate composition, some minerals and phytochemical constituents using standard methods. The mixed Sargassum species contained 154 mg/100 g% protein, 86.5 mg/100 g ash content, 25.5 mg/100 g fat, 71.5 mg/100 g fibre and 573 mg/100 g carbohydrate. Thus it could be consumed by humans if cleaned. Owing to the small concentration of Nitrogen (6.3 mg/100 g), phosphorus (96.5 mg/100 g) potassium (28 mg/100 g), the percentage ratio of N-P-K (1-10-3) of Sargassum spp. was recommended as fertilizer. The presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins show that the species can be harnessed for their medicinal potentials. Keywords: Sargassum natans, Sargassum fluitans , brown algae, proximate analysis, phytochemical, fertilizer, Nigeria African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol. 13(10), pp. 1188-1193, 5 March, 2014