Polyunsaturated Fatty acids of marine macroalgae: potential for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. | - CCMAR -

Journal Article

TitlePolyunsaturated Fatty acids of marine macroalgae: potential for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsPereira, H, Barreira, L, Figueiredo, F, Custódio, L, Vizetto-Duarte, C, Polo, C, Rešek, E, Engelen, AH, Varela, J
Year of Publication2012
JournalMar Drugs
Volume10
Issue9
Date Published2012 Sep
Pagination1920-35
ISSN1660-3397
KeywordsAcyltransferases, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Diet, Dietary Fats, Unsaturated, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Seaweed
Abstract

As mammals are unable to synthesize essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), these compounds need to be taken in through diet. Nowadays, obtaining essential PUFA in diet is becoming increasingly difficult; therefore this work investigated the suitability of using macroalgae as novel dietary sources of PUFA. Hence, 17 macroalgal species from three different phyla (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta) were analyzed and their fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profile was assessed. Each phylum presented a characteristic fatty acid signature as evidenced by clustering of PUFA profiles of algae belonging to the same phylum in a Principal Components Analysis. The major PUFA detected in all phyla were C(18) and C(20), namely linoleic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. The obtained data showed that rhodophytes and phaeophytes have higher concentrations of PUFA, particularly from the n-3 series, thereby being a better source of these compounds. Moreover, rhodophytes and phaeophytes presented "healthier" ∑n-6/∑n-3 and PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratios than chlorophytes. Ulva was an exception within the Chlorophyta, as it presented high concentrations of n-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid in particular. In conclusion, macroalgae can be considered as a potential source for large-scale production of essential PUFA with wide applications in the nutraceutical and pharmacological industries.

DOI10.3390/md10091920
Sapientia

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23118712?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalMar Drugs
PubMed ID23118712
PubMed Central IDPMC3475264