Caulerpa cylindracea: First In-Depth Look at Its Nutritional Potential

The invasive seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea and has significant ecological impacts, but its nutritional potential remains underexplored. Samples were collected from the northern Adriatic Sea and analyzed for proximate composition, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids using standardized laboratory methods. Results showed that the seaweed has a balanced proximate composition with significant protein (11.8g/100g dry weight) and fiber (24.4g/100g dry weight) content and relatively low carbohydrate (11.6g/100g dry weight) content. The seaweed has a rich mineral content, including high levels of iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, and contains no toxic heavy metals. Compared to related species, vitamin B12 and E concentrations are higher. Amino acid analysis showed that the seaweed has a balanced essential amino acid composition with high nutritional value. High salt content (33.8g/100g dry weight) indicates that desalination is required before consumption to reduce sodium intake risk.

These results suggest that this invasive species has the potential to become a novel dietary ingredient, especially for vegetarians in Mediterranean regions who may benefit from marine sources of essential nutrients. This is the first comprehensive nutritional characterization of C. cylindracea from the Adriatic Sea, highlighting its potential as a value-added resource for environmental management strategies and novel dietary applications.