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Nutritional Composition and Assessment of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Bory
Author(s) -
Wen Xue,
Peng Changlian,
Zhou Houcheng,
Lin Zhifang,
Lin Guizhu,
Chen Shaowei,
Li Ping
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2006.00333.x
Subject(s) - food science , amino acid , composition (language) , biology , methionine , polyunsaturated fatty acid , oleic acid , phytic acid , linoleic acid , biochemistry , leucine , palmitic acid , fatty acid , botany , philosophy , linguistics
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. (Managing editor: Ping He)