Unlocking the Fatty Acid Profile of Macroalgae Species in Sea of Marmara, Türkiye: A Comprehensive Analysis of Extraction Methods

Abstract

In the present study, the determination of proximate composition (moisture, ash, protein, and lipid) and fatty acid contents of three macroalgae (Ulva Lactuca, Cystoseira Barbata, and Ceramium Rubrum) collected from the southern coast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara in April 2021. The ash content was highest in Cystoseira Barbata (19.20%). The protein content ranged between 9.88% – 10.21%. The performances of soxhlet and cold press extraction methods were compared in determining the lipid content of macroalgae. The cold pressing extraction method was shown to have a higher yield of lipid extracts than the soxhlet extraction method. The most abundant fatty acid in the macroalgae species was palmitic acid (C16:0, 35.35 – 47.34%) from saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Oleic acid (C18:1, 18.78 – 25.25%) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1, 14.24 – 15.36%) were other plentiful fatty acids from monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in the studied species. Linoleic acid (C18:2ω6), α-linolenic acid (C18:3ω3), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6ω3) from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) levels varied from 3.67 – 4.64%, 4.32 – 5.68%, 1.21 – 2.75%, respectively. It was concluded that the proximate composition and types and contents of fatty acids vary depending on species, season and geography.