Abstract
In the present paper deals with the estimation of the free amino acid composition of Ulva pertusa, Enteromorpha linza (green algae), Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum confusum (brown algae), and Chondria crassicaulis, Neodilsea yendoana, Laurencia nipponica (red algae) using an amino acid analyzer (Hitachi, type KLA-III, Amberlite CG 120). The results obtained are shown in Table 2.
Amino acid composition of Ulva is in good agreement with that of Enteromorpha in rich amount of D-cysteinolic acid and less amount of taurine, tyrosine, tryptophan, arginine, and lysine. None of alloisoleucine, citrulline, histidine, methionine, ornithine, and S-hydroxy-methyl-L-homocysteine are found in these two species.
High contents of alanine, glycine and proline in Undaria, those of alanine in Sargassum, chondrine in Chondria, taurine in Neodilsea, and glutamic acid and valine in Laurencia are specifically recognized. A few amount of alloisoleucine is found in Undaria, whereas chondrine observed in every species of these algae. Citrulline is present only in Neodilsea, ornithine in Sargassum, Neodilsea, and Laurencia. S-Hydroxymethyl-L-homocysteine is found in Neodilsea and Laurencia in appreciable amounts, but D-cysteinolic acid is not detected in these algae. The presence of some unknown compounds is suggested from the present study.
