Compositions of Extractive Nitrogenous Constituents and Their Monthly Variation for Fresh Capsosiphon fulvescens

Abstract

To elucidate the composition of extractive nitrogenous components in the fresh Capsosiphons fulvescens cultured off the southern coast of Korea, and to determine the monthly variation of these nitrogenous components, extract samples collected monthly from December to March at Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam Province were analyzed for total nitrogen, free and combined amino acids, ATP and related compounds, betaines, trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and trimethylamine (TMA). The content of extractive nitrogen was 1,090～1,233 ㎎/100 g on dry basis. The number of 21～25 ninhydrin-positive substances was detected in the analysis of free amino acids, and their total amount was 3,710～4,788 ㎎/100 g on dry basis. Among them, free proline, asparagine, glutamic acid, alanine, taurine and glutamine were found to be abundant. The combined amino acids amounted to 1,573～2,121 ㎎/100 g in total and the total amount of ATP and related compound was 33.8～84.0 ㎎/100 g (1.06～2.46 μ㏖/g) on dry basis. Betaine, glycinebetaine, β-alaninebetaine, γ-butyrobetaine, homarine and trigonelline were detected in most of samples. Levels of free and combined amino acids, ATP and related compounds fluctuated from sample to sample, with their contents higher in December and January and lower in March.