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The nutritional evaluation of carbohydrate, protein and lipid in three selected seaweed (marine
macroalgae) species such as Ulva lactuca, Sargassam wightii and Gracilaria edulis from Muttom
and Kanyakumari coasts of Kanyakumari district was determined. The samples were collected in
two seasons, pre monsoon (Aug. 2015) and post monsoon season (Dec. 2015). The carbohydrate
content of three seaweeds varied from 49.2 ± 3.2% dw to 33.6 ± 1.6% dw. The protein content of the
selected seaweeds ranged from 21.9 ± 1.4% to 11.2 ± 0.3 % dw. The level of lipid of the three
seaweeds varied from 2.6 ± 0.4% dw to 0.8 ± 01% dw. Among the three seaweeds, U. lactuca
contained higher amount of carbohydrate (49.2 ± 3.2% dw) and protein (21.9 ± 1.4% dw) however
G. edulis possessed maximum lipid (2.6 ± 0.4% dw). The study of seasonal variation showed that the
best season for harvesting seaweeds for food is pre monsoon season. The carbohydrate and lipid
content are found maximum in the samples from Muttom coast and protein content is found
maximum in the samples from Kanyakumari coast.
Keywords: Ulva lactuca, Sargassam wightii,Gracilaria edulis, Nutritional evaluation, Season