Health-promoting ingredients from four selected Azorean macroalgae

This study presents, for the first time, the nutritional and health promoting aspects of four selected Azorean macroalgae (Ulm compressa, Ulva rigida, Gelidium microdon and Pterocladiella capillacea) in terms of total lipids, fatty acids (FA) profile, n6/n3 and hypocholesterolemic (h)/hypercholesterolemic (H) FA ratios, minerals, total essential amino acids (AA), anti-ageing and anti-phenylketonuria AA content, coenzyme Q(10), alpha-tocopherol, total phenolics, antioxidant properties and energy value, on a dry weight basis. The results revealed low lipid content (1.02-4.32%) but significant PUFA content (29.57-69.22% of total FA), suitable FA ratios (0.48-9.49 for n6/n3 and 126-4.22 for h/H), balanced macromineral ratios (0.27-1.91 for Na/K and 0.15-1.07 for Ca/Mg), appreciable amount of essential AA (45.27-58.13% of total AA), high amount of anti-ageing AA, low Phe content, coenzyme Q(10) (1.25-827 mu g/g), alpha-tocopherol (2.61-9.14 mg/100 g), high total phenolic content (27.70-55.07 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g extract), significant free radical scavenging activity (2932-47.73%) and valuable energy content (6.80-9.80 kJ/g). A regular consumption of these algae either directly or through food supplements may improve human health or may have a protective effect on some diseases and ageing process. They can also be used for producing pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals with potential economic value. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.