Assessment of Nutritional Constituents Content and Biomedical Aspects of Five Gracilaria Species: A Multivariate Analysis

This study assesses the nutritional aspects of five Gracilaria sp. (G. verrucosa, G. corticata, G. crassa, G. cylindrical, and G. edulis) including their antioxidant and in-vitro anti-diabetic potential. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) reveals the presence of free amino acids. Total phenolic content 13.25 ± 0.39 mg GAE g-1, flavonoid content 44.45 ± 0.36 mg GAE g-1, ferrous ion chelating ability 28.32%, and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity 16.53 ± 0.5% contents were recorded highest in G. crassa, while DPPH activity was recorded highest in G. corticata 33.7 ± 0.35%, and total polyamine content was recorded maximum in G. edulis (2.54 ± 0.27). Polysaccharide yield in red alga Gracilaria sp. varies from highest (25.14 ± 0.6) in G. crassa to lowest (16.99 ± 0.53) in G. edulis. The highest number was 12 types of free amino acids present in G. edulis. The highest α‑amylase (46.80%) was recorded in G. crassa, while the highest α‑glucosidase (80.63%) was observed in G. corticata.