Biochemical composition of some marine algae from Mandapam coast, Tamil Nadu

The present paper deals with some important biochemical components such at proteins, carbohydrates and lipids of 33 marina algae, growing abundantly on the coast of Ramanathapuram District. The results indicated that the green algae (Chlorophyceae) has the maximum of protein content ranging from 6 to 25.8%, next in order comes the brown algae (Phaeophyceae) with13 to 16.6% followed by red algae (Rhodophyceae) with 1.5 to 8.8%. The range of carbohydrate content was from 0.3 to 11.6% in green algae, 3.3 to 24.9% in brown algae and 1.8 to 57.0% in red algae. The lipid content ranged from 0.6 to 8.6% in green algae, 0.6 to 3.7% in brown algae and 0.4 to 6.1% in red algae. The results of the study give an Insight into the biochemical content of the algal species studied could be used to decide their suitability for the formulation of feed to fishes in aquaculture and to other animals.