NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF RED SEAWEED Rodhymenia howeana FROM ANCON BAY, PERU

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional composition of the red alga Rodhymenia howeana. Tests performed: proximal analysis determined according to AOAC, mineral content by atomic absorption spectroscopy, amino acid count by cation exchange chromatography using an amino acid analyzer, vitamin C content and total phenols by spectrophotometry. The most important results of the proximal analysis were 28.56% of protein; 21.08% ash and traces of ethereal extract (lipids) in dry sample. Of the mineral content: iron 502 mg / kg and zinc 18.54 mg / kg of dry sample of algae. The most abundant essential amino acids (mg / 100 g of dry sample) were: valine 95, leucine 116 and lysine 116.2 and among the non-essential ones relevant: alanine 139, aspartic acid 244 and glutamic acid 313. Of the antioxidant components the content of vitamin C was 1.12 mg in 100 g of dry sample and of total phenols was 980.2 mg EAG / 100 g of dry sample. Conclusions: the red seaweed Rodhymenia howeana is a nutritious food and contains antioxidant compounds.