Studies on the Components of Naga-kombu, Laminaria longissima-II

Inorganic Elements

Abstract

Following the previous paper inorganic elements of Naga-kombu, L. longissima, were determined on the base, central and top parts of the blade in dried specimens harvested in June and September after two years of growth at Kushiro, Hokkaido to clarify the food value as mineral source. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
The contents of iron and iodine in Sei-kombu, mature L. longissima, were relatively higher than the reported values.
Higher value of iron along with lower levels of calcium, magnesium and iodine were observed in Saomae-kombu, immature L. longissima, as compared with those in Sei-kombu.
In Sei-kombu the percentages of calcium, iron, magnesium and iodine recovered from the ascus parts were found to be lower than those of other parts. Furthermore, it was indicated that these analytical values obtained for Seikombu were between those of the fertile parts and the values of the sterile parts.
These results indicate that the chemical composition of Sei-kombu may be influenced by the mixture ratio of the ascus or the fertile parts in the sample.