A Review: Nutritional and Bioactive Potential of Maluku Endemic Seaweed “

One type of seaweed found on the Coast of Ambon Island is Porphyra sp., a red algae species from the Rhodophyta phylum utilized by the local community as a “sea vegetable” due to its beneficial nutritional and bioactive compounds, consisting of 24.6-40.0% protein, 0.2-2.8% fat, and 35.0-49.8% crude fiber. In an effort to address the challenges of poultry health and performance in the modern era, functional feed supplements have emerged as a promising solution. Functional feed supplements are feed additives that not only provide basic nutrition but also provide specific health benefits or improve certain physiological functions in livestock. Porphyra sp. has various names, according to its country of origin, including purple laver (England, United States, and Canada), karengo (New Zealand), nori (Japan), kim (Korea), and zicai (China). This review aims to synthesize various scientific literatures on the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of Porphyra sp. endemic to Maluku and analyze its potential as a functional feed supplement for poultry. Scientific evidence shows that Porphyra sp. is rich in protein, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, which can improve feed efficiency, growth performance, and poultry product quality. Furthermore, its bioactive compounds can modulate the immune response and maintain digestive tract integrity. Porphyra sp. has the potential to become a functional supplement in environmentally friendly poultry feed. While promising, challenges related to production availability require attention, as it has not yet been widely cultivated. Further research on optimal dosage and long-term impacts on poultry is urgently needed.