Fatty Acids Composition of Marine Macroalgae (Review)

Abstract

Fatty acids (FA) are important nutritional substances and metabolites in living organism. Degenerative diseases related to inappropriate FAs consumption cause the two thirds cases of the population death who are living in affluent, industrialized nations. Marine algae represent a considerable part of the littoral biomass. Many algal species have long been used as human food, animal fodder and source of valuable substances. In addition, algal species are of interest from the pharmaceutical point of view. Marine algae are rich in essential fatty acids (FAs) especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as Omega-3(n-3 seri) and Omega-6 (n-6 seri),which are important in the nutrition of humans and animals. Because of high n-3 content, the n-6/n-3 ratio in macroalgae is lower than 10 which is congruent with WHO nutritional recommendations. Although each member of marine macrophytic algae has its characteristic FA pattern, but up to now, only a limited numbers of algal species have been investigated for their FAs composition. Hence, the objective of this review study is to explain briefly the FAs content and composition in some investigated marine macroalgae and also to assess the potential of some members of three phylum macroalgae, green (Chlorophyta), Brown (Phaeophyta) and red (Rhodophyta), as the sources of FAs especially PUFAs and very long chain PUFAs (VLCPUFAs) and their beneficial effects to cure and remedy some of the human diseases.