Assessing the Nutraceutical Potential of the Brown Seaweed Cystoseira trinodis Collected from the Western Coastal Region of Gujarat, India through the Nutritional Composition Analysis

Abstract

The UN projects that population growth will increase global food demand, necessitating higher food production. Aquaculture can help meet this rising need. While popular in Asia, edible macroalgae (seaweed) consumption is rising globally, especially in the US and Europe. Their high nutritional value and versatility make them suitable for various food applications. This study analysed the composition, mineral content, and fatty acids of Cystoseira trinodis. The Moisture, Crude Protein, Fat, Crude fibre and Ash content of the dried seaweed powder was found to be 15.46 ± 0.19%, 10.64 ± 0.24%, 5.39 ± 0.16%, 7.96 ± 0.09% and 15.41 ± 0.16%, respectively. This seaweed powder is high in fibre and ash while being good in protein, and fat. It's a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and especially unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting its potential as a food supplement and functional food ingredient. While this study used chemical analysis, further biological evaluation (e.g., feeding studies) could further support its use in functional foods, supplements, and nutraceutical as well as multifunctional uses in health-promoting pharmaceuticals.