Fatty acids (FAs) composition in marine macroalgae along west coast of India

Abstract

This study focused on the nutritional analysis of three marine macroalgae from the Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta phyla, specifically examining their lipid and fatty acid compositions. The lipid content of Gayralia oxysperma, Porphyra vietnamensis, and Hypnea musciformis varied significantly among the species, ranging from 1.50% to 4.94% on a dry weight basis (p < 0.01). Notably, members of Chlorophyta exhibited higher levels of C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to C20 PUFAs, while Rhodophyta species had slightly higher levels of C20 PUFAs than C18 PUFAs. The major fatty acids found in Rhodophyta species were palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), and arachidonic acid (AA), while G. oxysperma displayed high levels of linolenic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Overall, all studied species demonstrated a nutritionally beneficial n6/n3 ratio ranging from 0.39 to 2.48:1, indicating a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which is important for human health.