A COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES, OXALATE OXALIC-ACID SOLUBLE SUBSTANCES, PROTEIN-CONTENT, AND IN-VITRO PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY OF THE BLUE-GREEN-ALGA NOSTOC COMMUNE VAUCH. FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN

The physical properties, amount of oxalate-oxalic acid soluble substan ces (OOSS), protein and in vitro protein digestibility of Nostoc commu ne from the Philippines and Japan were determined. The samples were th e spherical type from the Philippines (PS), the dry field discoid type from the Philippines (PD), and the dry field discoid type from Japan (JD). The discoid types, PD and JD, regardless of origin showed higher settling volume in water (SV) and bulk density than PS. The OOSS valu es obtained for all samples were directly related to SV and bulk densi ty. The WHC level was highest in PS. This desirable characteristic mak es PS a technologically potential sample for large-scale food producti on applications in the future. Protein and in vitro protein digestibil ity varied significantly among all samples. In general, the algal samp les examined possess desirable physical properties which are expected to be related to physiological functions.