• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2023

Seaweed-derived foods have long been popular in Korea because of their high content of nutrients that are beneficial to the human body. Recently, Korean seaweeds have been used as raw materials to produce new natural products with health benefits. Herein, we compared the antioxidant activity of 16 Korean seaweed extracts to explore their potential utility as health foods. The total phenolic content (TPC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of seaweed extracts were determined. We also investigated their ability to protect human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cells against hydrogen peroxide. The results showed that seaweed extracts at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL did not cause any cell toxicity. Sargassum thunbergii (Jichung-i) had the highest TPC and radical scavenging effects, followed by Porphyra tenera (Gim), Silvetia siliquosa (Tteumbugi), and Sargassum fusiforme (Tot). Hydrogen peroxide increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, while P. tenera (Gim), Saccharina japonica (Dasima), and S. thunbergii (Jichung-i) extracts significantly decreased it. The effect was highest in the S. thunbergii (Jichung-i)-treated HDF cells. These findings indicate that S. thunbergii (Jichung-i) shows promise as a potential antioxidant raw material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1501-1510
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• 2011

In recent years novel potential pharmocological candidates have been looked for in animal, seaweed, sponge, fungi and marine bacteria resources. In this study, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that play an important role in metastasis, arthritis, chronic inflammation and wrinkle formation were used as target enzymes to screen therapeutic agents. The inhibitory effects of several marine algae including green algae (5 species), red algae (18 species) and brown algae (4 species) methanolic extracts on MMPs were investigated in human dermal fibroblasts and human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080 cells) using gelatin zymography. In human dermal fibroblasts, the inhibition of MMP-2 was observed in Laurencia okamurae, Polysiphonia japonica, Grateloupia lanceolate and Sinkoraena lancifolia of red algae. In contrast, MMP-2 activation was enhanced in Enteromorpha compressa and E. linza of green algae, and Peltaronia bighamiae and Sargassum thunbergii of brown algae. In human fibrosarcoma cells, MMP-9 activation was decreased in the presence of S. thunbergii of brown algae, Polysiphonia japonica in red algae and E. compressa and E. linza of green algae. The interesting finding is that E. compressa and E. linza of green algae, and S. thunbergii of brown algae exhibited a positive effect on MMP-2 in normal cells, but a negative effect on MMP-9 in cancer cell lines. These results suggest that E. compressa and E. linza of green algae, and S. thunbergii of brown algae contain potential therapeutic ingredients for cancer treatment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.574-584
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• 1997

Benthic marine algae of Shinjido located on the southern coast of Korea have been investigated to know the floristic composition and community structure. The study was conducted from the intertidal to subtidal zones at two different locations (Kangdok and Donggori) using a line transect method from January to October, 1994. A total of 120 species of marine algae were identified, and they includes 15 green algae, 31 brown algae and 74 red algae. Of these, 87 and 104 species of marine algae occurred at Kangdok and Donggori, respectively. Algal vegetations were divided into three different zonations: the upper, the middle and the lower zones. The representative species are Enteromorpha compressa, Ulva pertusa, Porphyra suborbiculata, lshige okamurae in the upper zone; Hizikia fusiformis, Sargassum thunbergii, Gigatina intermedia, Corallina pilulifera in the middle zone; Pachymeniopsis elliptica, Gelidium amansii, Sargassum horneri in the lower zone. In terms of biomass the dominant species were U. pertusa, I. okamurae, H. fusiformis, C. thunbergii, C. pilulifera, C. amansii, C. tenella. The flora could be classified into six functional form groups such as the coarsely branched form $(36.7\%)$ the filamentous form $(27.5\%)$, the sheet form $(15.8\%)$, the thick leathery form $(10.0\%)$, the jointed calcarious form $(5.0\%)$ and the crustose form $(5.0\%)$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2009

The species composition and distributional patterns in marine benthic algae at intertidal zone in Masan Bay were investigated seasonally throughout 2007. A total of 42 species, 5 Chlorophyta 8 Phaeophyta and 29 Rhodophyta were recorded, and dominant species were Enteromorpha linza, Ulva pertusa, Sargassum thunbergii, Gelidium amansii, G. divaricatum, Corallina pilulifera, Gracilaria textorii, and Polysiphonia morrowii during study periods. Especially the vertical distribution of dominant algal species was remarkable: U. pertusa and G. divaricatum were dominated in the upper part, E. intestinalis, E. linza, S. thunbergii and G. divaricatum were in the middle part, and U. pertusa, Undaria pinnatiffda, S. thunbergii, G. amansii, G. divaricatum and C. pilulifera mainly occurred in the low part of tidal zone. The numbers of species were different with seasons and stations; Higher number of species was 38 species in winter, whereas 28 species were the lowest in fall. The number of species was higher at stations 4 and 6 Mile the lower value was at stations 1 and 2 than other stations. The spatial distributional patterns of marine benthic algal composition at each station in dendrogram and MDS ordination were due to the differences of local topography and physical characteristics such as currents and water movements.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.428-438
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• 2003

Benthic marine algal community of Hakampo in the western coast of Korea was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Seasonal assessments of species composition, biomass, dominant species in biomass and vertical distributional pattern were carried out from spring to winter. A total of 121 species was identified; 6 blue-green, 18 green, 16 brown, 81 red algae. In three sites investigated, 96 species were collected at Bunjeomdo, 75 at Maoe, and 57 at Doranggol, respectively. Dermocarpa sp. and Acrochaetium microscopicum were collected for the first time in Korea through this investigation. Dominant species in specific proportions of biomass were Sargassum thunbergii, Gloiopeltis furcata, Corallina spp., Symphyocladia latiuscula and Monostroma nitidum. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 31.59-427.69 g dry wt$.$$\mu \textrm m^{-2}$ at Bunjeomdo and 20.98-473.48 g dry wt$.$$\mu \textrm m^{-2}$ at Maoe, respectively, which were comparatively high in the western coast of Korea. Vertical distribution in intertidal zones was Gloiopeltis furcata-Gloiopeltis furcata and Corallina spp.-Corallina spp. and Sargassum thunbergii.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2008

The seasonal variation and vertical distribution of the marine algal community were investigated using the quadrat method from February 2006 to January 2007 at 10 sites in Gwangyang Bay, Korea. In total, 48 red, 17 brown, and 13 green algal taxa were identified. The algal vertical distribution in the intertidal zone was characterized by Ulva pertusa, while the upper tidal zone was dominated by Gelidium divaricatum. The middle zone was primarily composed of Enteromorpha linza, Sargassum thunbergii, and Chondracanthus intermedia, whereas Hizikia fusiformis, Sargassum thunbergii, Gelidium amansii, and Corallina pilulifera characterized the low tidal zone. Results of cluster analysis indicated that algal composition fell into two groups, which were composed of species in the inland and open sea. In conclusion, the number of species, diversity, and abundance of vegetation in this area were remarkably reduced compared to previous studies in Gwangyang Bay.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.225-236
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• 1990

Intertidal algal communities of Muchangpo and Maryangri in western coast of Korea were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Seasonal assessments of species composition, biomass, dominant species in biomass and vertical distributional pattern were conducted from July 1986 to April 1988. Ninety-nine species of marine algae (13 Cyanophyta, 12 Chlorophyta, 24 Phaeophyta and 50 Rhodophyta) were observed, of which 90 (13 Cyanophyta, 11 Chlorophyta, 23 Phaeophyta and 43 Rhodophyta) were from Muchangpo and 83 (10 Cyanophyta, 11 Chlorophyta, 21 Phaeophyta and 41 Rhodophyta) were from Maryangri, respectively. Ordination by detrended correspondence analysis based on the floristic data from nine localities indicated that, on the whole, marine algal distribution in western coast of Korea might be divided into two regions, i.e. the north and the south, being separated at the Taean Peninsula, the mid-western coast. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 44.55-201.19g-dry wt/$m^2$ at Muchangpo and 19.59-134.76g-dry wt/$m^2$ at Maryangri. Important species determined by the specific proportion of biomass were Sargassum thunbergii, Pelvetia siliquosa and Corallina pilulifera at Muchangpo, and Sargassum thunbergii and Corallina pilulifera at Maryangri.

• ALGAE
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.301-309
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• 2003

Community structure and vertical distribution of benthic marine algae were investigated in the intertidal and subtidal rocky shore of Samyang, Jejudo Island. The total number of 62 algal species composed of 6 Cyanophyta, 6 Chlorophyta, 19 Phaeophyta, and 31 Rhodophyta were observed. The dominant species were melobesioidean algae, Sargassum thunbergii, Hizikia fusiformis, and Ulva pertusa in the intertidal zone and melobesioidean algae, Ulva pertusa, Corallina spp., and Undaria pinnatifida in the subtidal zone. The vertical algal distribution was represented by the melobesioidean algae in the whole rocky shore, Caulacanthus ustulatus in the upper intertidal zone, Sargassum thunbergii and Hizikia fusiformis in the middle and lower zone, Ulva pertusa in the lower zone and Ulva pertusa, Corallina spp., and Undaria prinnatifida in the subtidal zone. The composition of dominant species and pattern of the vertical distribution of algae in the present study were significantly different from the previous reports. Especially, distribution of crustose coralline algae was significantly extended.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.300-307
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• 2015

Seasonal variation in marine macroalgal community structure was examined at the intertidal zones of Geumgap, Jindo, Korea, from October 2013 to August 2014. In total, 56 macroalgal species were identified, including 9 green, 12 brown, and 35 red algae. Annual seaweed biomass was 548.96 g wet wt. /$m^2$ with seasonal range between 371.08 g wet wt. /$m^2$ at summer and 32.91 g wet wt. /$m^2$ at winter. The dominant seaweed in terms of biomass was Sargassum thunbergii and subdominant species were Gelidium elegans, Sargassum fusiforme, and Ishige okamurae. The vertical distribution of seaweeds from the upper to lower intertidal zones was Gloiopeltis spp., Ulva spp.- S. thunbergii, S. fusiforme, Ishige okamurae - S. thunbergii, S. fusiforme, G. elegans. Annual seaweed coverage, richness index (R), evenness index (J'), and diversity index (H') values were 27.95%, 6.10, 0.38, and 1.38, respectively. Coarsely branched form was the most dominant functional group in terms of species number and biomass among benthic macroalgal species.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.584-586
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• 1992