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15th
World Congress Clinical Nutrition
19th
– 22nd September 2010 El Sokhna Resort - Egypt
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Copyright © 2010.
WCCN2010.COM
All rights reserved |
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Microalgae as source of
antioxidants and essential nutrients
Ruma Pal1*, Sudeshna Sen
Roy1 and Nilofer Khatoon1
1Phycology Laboratory,
Department of Botany, University of
Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular
Road, Kolkata – 700 019, West
Bengal, India
rpalcu@rediffmail.com
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Objective/Aim of the Study/Project:
Use of microalgae in pharmaceutical
and nutraceutical industries is
quite popular since three decades.
In the present communication a
number of non conventional algal
genera have been evaluated on
nutritional aspects and antioxidant
properties using fish as a model
system.
Methods: Protein, carbohydrate,
lipid (Fatty acid analysis by GC),
vitamin C, antioxidant properties
(SOD-native gel, total carotenoids
including -carotene -quantitatively
and qualitatively-TLC) and elemental
analysis were done from 5 algal
genera viz. Phormidium valderianum,
Spirulina subsalsa, Chlorococcum
infusionum, Rhizoclonium riparium
and Navicula minima using standard
protocols. The nutritive value of
these algae was tested using
Oreochromis niloticus at fry stage.
Mean values of triplicate groups
have been taken and statistically
analyzed using SPSS (10.0).
Summary of Results: Blue green algal
genera Spirulina showed maximum
protein (2.54 to 28.03 % DW) and
vitamin C (0.016 to 0.026 % DW)
content whereas Phormidium showed
the highest carotenoid (0.01 to
0.28% DW). Carbohydrate was recorded
maximum in green algal genus in
Rhizoclonium (0.81 to 22.14 %
DW).Diatom genus Navicula showed
high lipid content (6.92 to 16.23 %
dry weight). The experimental fishes
showed significantly higher specific
growth rate (SGR), protein
efficiency ratio (PER) and lower
feed conversion ratio (FCR) when fed
with formulated algae based feed,
indicating efficient utilization of
the dietary algal protein,
carbohydrate and lipid, resulting in
improved fish body composition.
Significant (p<0.05) decrease in
fish mortality rate and increase in
disease resistance was also observed
in fish corroborating to the high
antioxidant properties of the algae.
Conclusion: The algal genera were
found to be highly nutritious having
high antioxidant property,
therefore, can be tested as
pharmaceutical and nutraceutical
agent in various aspects including
fish feed, poultry feed and human
health food.
Acknowledgement: The authors are
thankful to West Bengal State
Council of Science and Technology
(WBSCST) and University Grants
Commission (UGC) for providing
financial assistance as Research
Fellowship in Science for
Meritorious Student (RFSMS).
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