An Ethanol Extract of the Brown Seaweed Hizikia fusiformis and Its Active Constituent, Fucosterol, Extend the Lifespan of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The short-lived nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used as a model organism for many studies, including lifespan extension. To screen common seaweeds for natural anti-aging agents, the lifespan of C. elegans (N2 wild-type strain) was measured by its hatch rate, growth rate, survival rate, chemotaxis, brood size, and egg-laying time after exposure to nematode growth medium (NGM) containing seaweed extracts. Approximately 30 animals synchronized at the first larval stage were incubated until they reached their adult stages before laying their eggs and were transferred to fresh NGM every 3 days. We also identified the major active compound from the seaweed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and tested its optimal dose for longevity. Of 13 common seaweed species, an ethanol extract of the brown seaweed Hizikia fusiformis showed the greatest effect on hatching, growth, and survival rates. The lifespan of C. elegans was significantly expanded 1.54-fold and 1.23-fold in the presence of the ethanol extract (0.05 mg/ml) and the main active component, fucosterol (0.05 mg/ml), respectively. Exposure to the ethanol extract also increased chemotaxis 1.13-fold, decreased brood size 0.74-fold, and shortened egg-laying time 0.96-fold. These results suggest that the aquaculturable H. fusiformis may be a promising source of a diet supplement to support health care.

갈조류 톳(Hizikia fusiformis)의 에탄올추출물 및 이의 활성성분 fucosterol에 의한 예쁜꼬마 선충의 수명 연장

수명이 짧은 예쁜꼬마선충은 수명 연장 등 많은 연구의 모델생물으로서 사용되고있다. 해조류 추출물들이 포함된 선충배양용 한천배지에서 선충(N2 야생형)을 키우면서 그 수명을 측정하였다. 13종의 흔한 해조류 중에서 갈조류 톳의 에탄올추출물이 난 부화, 성장 및 생존율에서 가장 큰 효과를 보였다. 그 수명은 에탄올추출물(0.05 mg/ml) 및 주 활성성분인 fucosterol (0.05 mg/ml) 첨가에 의하여 1.54배 및 1.23배 정도로 유의미하게 증가되었다. 또한 에탄올추출물에 의하여 chemotaxis는 1.13배 증가, 한 배에서의 새끼는 0.74배 감소, 첫 산란시기는 0.96 배 단축되었다. 이와 같은 결과들로 보아서 양식 가능한 해조류 톳은 건강에 이로운 건강보조 식품으로서의 좋은 재료가 될 수 있을 것이다.