Comparative nutritional composition of selected brown seaweeds of the family Sargassaceae from coastal India

Abstract

Seaweeds have been identified as one of the fifty future foods owing to their high nutritional value, sustainability, and potential to support global food security. This study comprehensively evaluated the biochemical composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid (FA) composition, nutritional lipid quality indices, and mineral content of three Sargassaceae seaweeds ( Sargassum plagiophyllum, Turbinaria ornata , and Turbinaria decurrens ) collected from the peninsular coast of India. Protein content ranged from 12.24 to 14.75 g/100 g dry weight (DW), with the highest level in S. plagiophyllum (14.75 g/100 g DW). T. decurrens exhibited the highest total essential amino acids (TEAAs; 61.55 g/100 g protein), whereas total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content was highest in T. ornata (43.12% total FAs), followed by T. decurrens (32.39% FA) and S. plagiophyllum (29.25% FA). Eicosadienoic acid was the predominant PUFA, followed by eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid. Lipid content was low (1.02–1.95 g/100 g DW), with minimal cholesterol (0.14–0.22 mg/100 g DW). The PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratio ranged from 0.46 to 0.83, while the atherogenic index (0.78–0.92) and thrombogenic index (0.06–0.16) indicated favourable lipid quality. The seaweeds were also rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Comparative analysis demonstrated complementary nutritional attributes among the species, with S. plagiophyllum exhibiting the highest protein content, T. decurrens displaying the most favourable essential amino acid (EAA) profile, and T. ornata showing the highest levels of PUFAs. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of Sargassaceae seaweeds as sustainable functional food ingredients and nutraceutical resources for promoting cardiovascular and metabolic health.