EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY OF SEAWEEDS OF INDIA

Indian seaweed species Enteromorpha linza, Enteromorpha prolifera, Ulv a fasciata, Caulerpa taxifolia and Sargassum johnstonii from natural a nd cultivated populations were evaluated for food safety and nutrition al quality. Among the above seaweeds, Enteromorpha prolifera showed th e highest caloric value and protein content, while these values were l owest in Sargassum johnstonii species of natural habitat. The lipid co ntent was maximum in cultivated seaweeds of E. linza and U. fasciata s pecies. Crude fiber varied within a narrow range in all the seaweeds a nalyzed. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) studies conducted with E. linz a and U. fasciata showed low PER values compared to control rats fed o n casein as source of protein. Acute oral feeding of seaweeds E. linza , U. fasciata, C. taxifolia and S. johnstonii and subacute oral feedin g of E. linza for 12 weeks did not produce any toxic effects on male a nd female rats.