Abstract

The effects of vacuum, solar, convective, infrared, and freeze drying (VD, SD, CD, IRD, FD) on Durvillaea antarctica were evaluated in terms of nutritional composition, color, bioactive components, and antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Nutritional composition of the dried seaweeds scarcely varied, while a tendency to lose the reddish tone occurred. CD-seaweed had highest phytochemical and vitamin contents, while FD-samples showed best retention of pigments. Both samples also exhibited the strongest antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The highest essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids contents were found in IRD- and SD-samples, respectively. In general, FD and CD were proved to be viable drying options for D. antarctica.