Distinct fatty acid profile of ten brown macroalgae

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Graca Silva (Author) Other; Renato B Pereira (Author) Other; Patricia Valentao (Author) FFUP; Paula B Andrade (Author) FFUP; Carla Sousa (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia-Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy

Vol. 23

Pages: 608-613

ISSN: 0102-695X

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 38 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-99T

DOI: 10.1590/s0102-695x2013005000048

Abstract (EN): It is widely accepted that the consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has beneficial effects on human health. In this work, ten brown macroalgae species collected along the Portuguese west coast were studied for their fatty acids composition by GC-MS after alkaline hydrolysis and derivatization. The results of this survey showed that different macroalgae from the same region display distinct fatty acids profile. Concerning omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid was found in all but one species. Additionally, some species contained docosahexaenoic acid. Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid of the omega-6 series, was present in all studied macroalgae. Fucus spiralis L. exhibited the highest amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids and of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 and omega-6 series. The omega-6/omega-3 ratio in half of the studied species was lower than 1. This information reinforces the potential application of some brown macroalgae as dietary sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6