Appenroth KJ, Sree KS, Böhm V, Hammann S, Vetter W, Leiterer M, Jahreis G. Nutritional value of duckweeds (Lemnaceae) as human food.
Food Chem 2016;
217:266-273. [PMID:
27664634 DOI:
10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.08.116]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Duckweeds have been consumed as human food since long. Species of the duckweed genera, Spirodela, Landoltia, Lemna, Wolffiella and Wolffia were analysed for protein, fat, and starch contents as well as their amino acid and fatty acid distribution. Protein content spanned from 20% to 35%, fat from 4% to 7%, and starch from 4% to 10% per dry weight. Interestingly, the amino acid distributions are close to the WHO recommendations, having e.g. 4.8% Lys, 2.7% Met+Cys, and 7.7% Phe+Tyr. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was between 48 and 71% and the high content of n3 fatty acids resulted in a favourable n6/n3 ratio of 0.5 or less. The phytosterol content in the fastest growing angiosperm, W. microscopica, was 50mgg(-1) lipid. However, the content of trace elements can be adjusted by cultivation conditions. Accordingly, W. hyalina and W. microscopica are recommended for human nutrition.
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