Abstract

In this study, the effects of seasonal variation in nutritional compositions and fatty acid profile as a component of chemical compositions of Mediterranean Sea anemone species (Actinia equina Linneaus,1758) living in Mersin Bay were investigated. Nutritional composition analysis of anemone samples showed that while the highest levels of protein and moisture were obtained in Winter, the highest lipid and total mineral substance (TMS) levels were obtained in Autumn. In terms of fatty acid analysis, during all four seasons the dominant saturated fatty acids (SFA) were palmitic (C16:0) and stearic acids (C18:0), the dominant monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were oleic (C18:1n9) and vaccenic acids (C18:1n7) and the dominant polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were linoleic acids (C18:2n6), linolenic acid (C18:3n3), gamma linolenic acid (C18:3n6), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3) for Actinia equina L., 1758. The highest values of gamma linolenic acid, EPA and DHA levels were obtained in Autumn as 0.44%, 14.83% and 14.10%, respectively.