World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN THE BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME COMMON SEAWEED SPECIES FROM THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, INDIA.

P. Mary Saroja*, D. Dhaarani and R. Saratha

ABSTRACT

The biochemical composition like carbohydrate, protein and lipid in six selected seaweeds (marine macroalgae) species such as Padinafraseri, Caulerpalentillifera, Palmariapalmata, Sargassamwightii, Dictyotadichotoma and Janiarubens from Leepuram and Vattakottai coasts of Kanyakumari district was determined. The samples were collected in two seasons, pre monsoon (Sep.2015) and post monsoon (Dec.2015). The estimation of total carbohydrate was done by using Anthrone reagent, protein by using the Folin phenol reagent and lipid was done by extraction using the chloroform-methanol mixture. The optical density was measured using Jasco UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The carbohydrate content of the selected six seaweeds varied from 30.7 ± 0.48 % dw to 58.9 ± 0.92 % dw, the protein content of the selected six seaweeds ranged from10.7 ± 0.30 % dw to 19.7 ± 0.55 % dw, the level of lipid of the selected six seaweeds varied from 0.6 ± 0.03 % dw to 3.8 ± 0.18% dw. Among the six seaweeds, C. lentillifera contained higher amount of carbohydrate (58.9 ± 0.92% dw), P. fraseripossessed higher amount of protein (19.7 ± 0.55%dw) however D. dichotoma possessed maximum lipid (3.8 ± 0.18%dw). The study of seasonal variation showed that the best season for harvesting seaweeds for food is post monsoon season. The carbohydrate and protein content are found maximum in the samples from Leepuram coast and lipid content is found maximum in the samples from Vattakottai coast.

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