Proximate Composition of Certain Selected Marine Macro-Algae form Mandapam Coastal Region (Gulf of Mannar), Southeast Coast of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

In the present day, the fresh and dried seaweeds are consumed directly or indirectly as a dietary supplement. The important key to know it consumable value is by estimating its proximate composition. Three seaweeds were collected during the low tide of the littoral and sub-littoral region from the shores of Mandapam coast located in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere Reserve, Southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. The three species viz., Gracilaria corticata of Rhodophyta and Sargassum longifolium and Turbinaria conoides of Phaeophyta were estimated for its proximate composition such as Carbohydrate, Protein and Lipid contents. Among the seaweeds, Gracilaria corticata of Rhodophyta showed highest carbohydrate content and Sargassum longifolium showed high Protein and Lipid content.