Chemistry of Tropical Eucheumatoids: Potential for Food and Feed Applications

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 11; no. 6; p. 804
• Main Authors: Ariano, Andrea, Musco, Nadia, Severino, Lorella, De Maio, Anna, Tramice, Annabella, Tommonaro, Giuseppina, Damiano, Sara, Genovese, Angelo, Olanrewaju, Oladokun Sulaiman, Bovera, Fulvia, Guerriero, Giulia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Algae; Amino acids; Animal nutrition; Antibiotics; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - analysis; Cadmium; Carbohydrates; Carrageenan - analysis; Carrageenans; Copper; Dietary minerals; Fatty acids; feed additive; Feed additives; Feeds; Food; heavy metals; Kappaphycus; Laboratories; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Manganese; Minerals; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Nutrition; Pharmaceutical industry; Prebiotics; Proteins; Rhodophyta - chemistry; Seaweed - chemistry; Seaweeds; trace elements; Trace elements (nutrients); Trace Elements - analysis; Italy; Malaysia; Palau; feed additive; trace elements; antioxidants; heavy metals; Kappaphycus
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom11060804

The use of seaweeds as additives in animal nutrition may be a valid option to traditional feed as they represent a rich source of minerals, carbohydrates and antioxidants. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity of two tropical eucheumatoids, and , in Malaysian wild offshore waters. The chemical analysis was performed via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy for evaluating the concentration of toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) and essential elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Se); NMR spectroscopy was used for carrageenans investigation. Furthermore, the soluble and fat-soluble antioxidant capacities were determined by FRAP, DPPH and ABTS assays. The chemical analysis revealed a higher content of trace elements in as compared to , and both exhibited a high mineral content. No significant differences in metal concentrations were found between the two species. Both samples showed a mixture of prevailing κ- and t-carrageenans. Finally, the levels of soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants in were significantly higher than in . Our findings suggest that could be used as a potential feed additive because of its favorable chemical and nutritional features.