Chemical and Mineral Compositions of Sargassum spp. from Bo Mao Beach, Chumphon Province, Thailand

Abstract

Sargassum spp. or brown seaweeds have been used as food by the people in Pathio district, Chumphon province, south Thailand. This study is the first time that an investigation on the chemical and elemental compositions of Sargassum spp. found in the area has been conducted. Three species of Sargassum, namely Sargassum binderi, S. polycystum and S. oligocystum from Bo Mao Beach in Pathio District of Chumphon province were collected from September 2014 to February 2015. Results showed that the chemical compositions such as moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid and crude fiber of S. binderi were 5.61±0.00, 14.73±0.14, 5.96±0.03, 2.02±0.01 and 13.78±0.99% dry weight, respectively. Whereas, the moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid and crude fiber of S. polycystum were 5.34±0.01, 14.20±0.13, 6.83±0.05, 2.08±0.02 and 15.44±2.64% dry weight, respectively, and those of S. oligocystum were 4.17±0.19, 24.22±0.29, 5.47±0.41, 2.62±0.06 and 12.52±0.49% dry weight, respectively. The amount of Ca, P, K, Mg and Na of these seaweeds were significantly different (p<0.05), with S. binderi containing 3.23 ± 0.08, 0.07±0.00, 1.55±0.04, 0.99±0.01 and 0.75±0.00 % dry weight, respectively. Whereas S. polycystum contained 2.28±0.08, 0.07±0.01, 1.90±0.02, 0.90±0.01 and 1.12±0.00% dry weight, and S. oligocystum had 2.17±0.01, 0.06±0.00, 6.30±0.11, 0.85±0.01 and 0.58±0.01% dry weight, respectively. This study indicated that these brown seaweed are rich in beneficial nutrients, with potential for use as food not only for humans but also for animals.