PROXIMATE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND AMINO ACID PROFILE OF TWO RED SEAWEEDS (Hypnea pannosa and Hypnea musciformis) COLLECTED FROM ST. MARTIN’S ISLAND, BANGLADESH

The proximate composition and amino acid profile of two subtropical red seaweeds (Hypnea pannosa and Hypnea musciformis) were investigated. The total protein (16.31 ±0.72% DW for H. pannosa and 18.64±1.12% for H. musciformis) and dietary fibre (40.59±0.95% DW for H. pannosa and 37.92±1.44% for H. musciformis) were the two most abundant components in these seaweeds. The mean percentage (dry weight basis) of crude lipid, carbohydrates and ash were 1.56 ±0.22%, 22.89 ±1.26% and 18.65 ±0.54% for H. pannosa and 1.27 ±0.41%, 20.60±1.68% and 21.57 ±1.04% for H. musciformis; respectively. H. pannosa and H. musci-formis contained all the essential amino acids, which accounted for 52.27% and 53.89% of the total amino acids; respectively. Lysine, methionine and tyrosine were the limiting amino acids for H. pannosa (53.3, 14.6 and 25.8 mg/g protein; respectively) and H. musciformis (45.6, 16.2 and 26.2 mg/g protein; respectively). The proximate chemical composition and amino acid pro-file of these two red seaweed species exhibited high nutritional value for human consumption.