Abstract

Sargassum sp. is one of the local macro algae, which possesses various medical well known applications. In this study, different methods of lipid extraction from this macro alga, including centrifugation, ultrasonic bath, and soxhlet were investigated. Results revealed that using Soxhlet method presented a good yield of lipid extraction. Soxhlet extractions were performed at three extraction times (6h, 9h and 12h) and with two solvents (n-hexane and methanol). Results showed that the yield of lipid extraction by methanol was higher than n-hexane and mixtures of these two solvents. Results would suggest that the quality of the extracted lipids at 6h (Resulted in 20 % lipid yield) was more appropriate to detect fatty acids by GC MS. The analysis of fatty acids demonstrated that palmitic acid, a- Linoleic acid, Docosahexaenoic acid, Myristic acid, Oleic acid, Arachidonic acid, Palmitoleic acid and Stearic acid were predominance fatty acids in total lipid of sargassum brown macro algae, respectively. Results of this assessment indicated that besides the presence of two Omega fatty acids (ω-3 and ω -6) in the analyzed macro algae, the ratios of ω-6/ω-3 was lower than 1, which verifies that extracted oil from Sargassum is good candidates for human consumption.