Seasonal variation in the chemical composition of a marine brown alga, Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh

This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the chemical composition and the growth of a marine alga, Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh (abbreviated as S. horneri) harvested from the Chikuzen Sea, Fukuoka, Japan, as well as the changes in the chemical composition during pre-heating of harvested S. horneri. Both its length and weight reached maximum levels late in March. The mean chemical composition of S. horneri from December 2004 to May 2005 was 87.7% moisture, 1.0% protein, 0.1% lipid, 3.4% ash and 5.7% total dietary fiber. The ash contents of the male plants were higher in February but lower in March and April than those of the female plants. The lipid contents of the males were higher in March than those of the female plants. The protein content reached its maximum in February. The total dietary fiber content began to increase in February and reached its maximum at the end of March. The total dietary fiber content increased after full growth and maturity. S. horneri is a potential source of dietary fiber and minerals as a food ingredient.