Nutritional values of some Seaweeds from Iraqi coast of North – West Arabian Gulf

Abstract

In this study, 6 taxa from the Chlorophyta , Phaeophyta and Rhodophy collected from different stations at north – west of Arabian Gulf , Iraqi coast . A total of 120 samples from these seaweeds were used to measure the proteins, carbohydrates , lipids , vitamins , chlorophylls , total phenols and total carotenoids . In addition to lipid- soluble and water- soluble antioxidant . The red seaweeds B.fuscopurpura and E.carnea were showed high moisture content ( 85%and87%) ,lowash(18.88%and20.45%),lowcarbohydrate(22.12%and20.22%),lowlipids(2.55% and 2.48% ) and low vitamins E and C . E.carnea , showed the lowest pigments contents as well as phenolic content ( 2.5 ppm) , lipid – soluble antioxidant ( 78.34 μM BHT/g ) and total antioxidant capacities ( 33.5 μM AAE/g ) . While E. carnea contained more protein (7.26% ) than the other studied seaweeds . The highest ash contains ( 31.1%), vitamin E (20.12 IU) and phenolic content were recorded in the green seaweed E. Compressa, while Highest carbohydrate ( 38.77%), vitamin C ( 4.92 IU) and water soluble ( 52.12 μM AAE/g) were recorded by the brown seaweed G. mitchellae . The green seaweed C.glumerata showed highest lipid contents ( 7.63%) , chlorophyll a (0.721 mg/g), lipid soluble ( 1.25.66 μM AAE/g) and total antioxidant capacities ( 77.8 μM AAE/g), in the same time the highest carotenoides contents were found in the brown seaweed E. cofervoidex. There are no previous records on the chemical composition or nutritional values of Iraqi seaweeds so far, so this research focused on this side for the first time and open apportunities for further investigations of other seaweeds to evaluate their consumption as nutritional valuable food and medicinal products .