The proximate composition of three species of Phaeophyceae, namely Sargassum cristaefolium, S. polycystum, and S. wightii, was assessed to determine their nutritional profile, including total protein, fat, ash, acid dissolved ash, moisture, fiber, and calorie contents. The study revealed that S. polycystum had the highest protein content (9.43±0.99%), followed by S. cristaefolium (8.00±1.38%) and S. wightii (7.04±0.68%). The fat content was most prominent in S. wightii (1.22±0.19%), while S. cristaefolium exhibited highest ash content (16.46±0.68%). Acid dissolved ash was almost concentrated in S. cristaefolium (4.16±0.36%), and the highest moisture content was observed in both S. wightii (18.72±0.86%) and S. cristaefolium (16.98±1.48%) compared with S. polycystum (15.63±1.15%). Notably, fiber content was significantly higher in S. wightii (30.72±1.45%) compared to the other species. In terms of caloric value, S. polycystum showed highest calorie content with 2842.31±18.74 Kcal/Kg, followed by S. cristaefolium (2777.31±11.56 Kcal/Kg) and S. wightii (2639.21±15.42 Kcal/Kg). S. polycystum exhibited the highest total amino acid concentration at 13.805 units, followed by S. cristaefolium at 11.148 units, and S. wightii at 10.683 units. These findings provide a comparative analysis of the nutritional components across the selected seaweed species, highlighting their potential as valuable resources in food and industrial applications.
