The biochemical components (protein,carbohydrate and lipid)including amino and fatty acids in a solitary ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus were analysed from Palk Bay region (southeast coast of India) in March 2009. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the nutritive value.Moisture, protein,carbohydrate, lipids and ash contents were 67.01±5.9%,24.7±3.65%,4.97±2.82%,2.64±1.11% and 1.03±0.4% in dry weight, respectively. Among 18 essential and non essential amino acids, ten essentialand seven non-essential amino acids were reported in ascidian muscle. In essential amino acids, leucine and in non-essential amino acids, tyrosin were recorded in maximum level. The saturated fatty acid (SAFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents ranged from 0.131 to 1.612%, 1.304 to 1.546%, and 1.021 to 1.732% of total fatty acids, respectively.

Ascidian, Microcosmus exasperatus, amino acids, fatty acids