ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF BROWN SEAWEEDS OF GULF OF MANNAR

Seaweeds grow abundantly along the Indian coastline particularly in rocky shore regions. Rich seaweed beds occur around Visakhapatnam in the eastern coast; Mahabalipuram, Gulf of Mannar, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin and Kerala in the southern coast; Veraval and Gulf of Kutch in the western coast; Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. In Tamil Nadu 302 species of seaweeds were recorded which comprised of 33 Chlorophyta, 31 Phaeophyta and 35 Rhodophyta groups. Human consumption of green algae (5%), brown algae (66.5%) and red algae (33%) is higher in Asia, mainly in Japan, China and Korea. Around 150 species of seaweeds are well consumed as human food. This study was aimed to evaluate the nutritional and functional property of brown seaweeds of Gulf of Mannar.

Brown seaweeds were collected from Seeniyappa dharga (9º26'08.72"N and 79º06'75.52"E) and Vadakaadu (9º32'12.60"N and 79º29'49.90"E) of Ramanathapuram district in Gulf of Mannar during the month of September 2016. Six varieties of seaweeds collected were identified up to species level using the standard identification keys. Seaweed were washed with clean freshwater and shade dried for five days. The protein, fat, fiber and minerals of the collected seaweeds were estimated by standard methods. FTIR Analysis and DPPH radical scavenging activity were carried out to assess functional property of collected seaweeds.