Nutritional Values of Solitary Ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus Heller, 1878 (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae)

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the nutritive value of solitary ascidians Microcosmus exasperates at Palk Bay region (Southeast coast of India) during March 2009. Analysis of protein, carbohydrate and lipid analysis were carried out. These ranged from 23.5±2.65 -17.3±2.11%, 14.11 ±2.42- 11.15±2.12% and 2.67±0.21-2.01±0.41%, respectively on mussels in test a dry matter (DM) basis. Totally, 18 essential and non essential amino acids were reported. Among these, 10 essential and 7 non essential amino acids are reported in ascidians mussel. The maximum recorded level of essential amino acid (567.3mg) was leucine and the minimum level of non essential amino acids (0.212mg) was aspartic acid. The contents of saturated fatty acids (SAFA), mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ranged from 1.664-0.110, 1.565-1.034 and 1.786-1,293mg of total fatty acids, respectively. These results indicated that the biochemical composition and subsequently the nutritional value of these ascidians are not only genetically determined but also influenced by its maturity stage and type of ingested food.