Proximate and Fatty acid Composition of the Southern Caspian Sea Macroalgae

The nutritional values of the three Caspian Sea macroalgae species, Cladophora glomerata, Enteromorpha intestinalis and Laurencia caspica were evaluated based on proximate and fatty acid composition. The investigated species demonstrated low lipid composition (0.20±0.03- 1.62±0.26 % DW) and high carbohydrate (21.70±0.17-26.1±1.27%DW) and protein contents (13.34±2.41-28.08±0.51%DW). The ash content varied from 17.87±0.20 to 30.36±0.98% DW and the amount of moisture ranged from 5.09±0.10 to 12.00±0.23% DW. Myristic acid was recorded as the most abundant saturated fatty acid. 8-octadecenoic and 9-octadecenoic acids were presented as the major monounsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid in green algae and arachidonic acid in red alga were detected as the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids.