Characterization of Fatty Acid Components in Lipid of Fudaraku (Pachymeniopais lanceolata)

Abstract

Quantitative analysis were carried out to determine the contents of icosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in lipid of seaweeds collected from the shore in Miyagi prefecture. It was found that Fudaraku (Pachymeniopsis lanceolata) included much more EPA than other algae examine d. Main fatty acid components of the lipid in the seaweed were EPA, palmitic acid and arachidonic acid, and their contents were 38.7, 33.9 and 13.2%(w/w), respectively. The EPA content in Fudaraku was 378 mg per 100 g of dried alga, which was mostly included in the polar part in acetone soluble lipid. The amount of EPA was considerably greater than that of Asakusanori (Porphyra tenera) which was reported to contain a high content of EPA. This seaweed is, therefore, suggested to be a useful resource of EPA and a suitable species for breeding to obtain an EPA-rich strain.