The nutritional value of six tropical seaweeds (Sargassum wightii, Ulva lactuca, Kappaphycus alvarezii,
Hypnea musciformis, Acanthophora spicifera and Gracilaria corticata) as complementary source of dietary
proteins for human and animal nutrition based on amino acid profile was evaluated. All these species showed
similar non-essential amino acid patterns in which aspartic and glutamic acids constituted together a large part
of the amino acid fraction (25.2% to 29.5%). Among these, Hypnea musciformis possessed higher amino acid
content and better amino acid profile and all of them were generally rich in phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine
and tryptophan and deficient in methionine, cysteine, leucine and lysine. Except U. lactuca all others showed
a balanced amino acid profile comparable to FAO reference pattern. Seaweeds being rich in minerals,
vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as phycocolloids, partial substitution of costly protein sources in
animal feeds with seaweed protein may improve feed quality while reducing the cost.

Seaweeds, amino acid profile, animal nutrition, protein source