A comparative study of PUFAs in Algae and higher plants

Abstract

A right and precise intake of nutrients is the key to a healthy life. Nutrients play a major role in the human diet and are responsible for the various cellular and enzymatic processes and growth of the body. One such category of nutrients is the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that our body cannot synthesize; therefore it is essential that these are taken from external sources to replenish our body. The aim of this study was to find out the effect of nitrogen and salinity on PUFAs in Ocimum basilicum, determine the ratio of these PUFAs in some algae and higher plants, and identify the most potent source. It was found that Chlorella vulgaris among the selected algae and Ocimum basilicum among the higher plants studied, gave the omega-6: omega-3 ratios of 1.93:1 and 0.67:1 respectively. Overall, Ocimum basilicum gave the best result among both algae and higher plants.