Nutritional profile, phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Gelidium corneum from Dar Bouazza, Morocco

Abstract

In Morocco, the exploitation of Gelidium corneum , known for its rich agar content, is one of the country’s most economic activities. On the different hand, its other components may have nutritional value. The study aimed to exploit these algae by determining their chemical composition and antioxidant and antibacterial potential. The results showed that it is rich in carbohydrates and proteins (60.77 ± 3.29 % and 20.6 ± 0.84 %) with an energy value of 342.75 kcal/100 g. Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of glutamate (171.4 ± 5.06 mg kg −1 ), arginine (32.85 ± 0.09 mg kg −1 ), and threonine (26.85 ± 0.63 mg kg −1 ). Fatty acid analysis shows it is rich in saturated fatty acids (86.51 ± 0.82 %), with a remarkable concentration of palmitic acid (46.71 ± 0.28 %). It contains vitamins B 2 and B 3 , pigments and essential minerals (Ca, Zn, Cu, Na, Fe, K, Mn, Mg). The results also showed that it has dose-dependent antioxidant capacity against ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) free radicals, and the antibacterial power of its ethanolic extract was demonstrated by potent inhibition of bacterial growth in seven pathogenic strains, three of which were tested for the first time. One can conclude that G. corneum has high nutritional quality, which can be used for dietary, pharmacotherapeutic, and economic purposes.