• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1083-1089
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• 2016

During menopause, elderly woman experience physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. In this study, we investigated the effects of mixed herbal extracts containing Angelica gigas Nakai and Cuscuta chinensis Lam. on menopause symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Daily oral treatments of 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg in OVX rats for 8 weeks significantly reduced weight gain, inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation, and lowered serum lipid levels comparable to the effects induced by estradiol treatments. Mixed herbal extracts (named Jaeummidan) also prevented vaginal dryness as measured by increased vaginal weight. Increased vaginal weight was associated with enlarged epithelium thickness. These data show the preventive actions of Jaeummidan against menopause symptoms and further suggest the possibility of developing functional ingredients in elderly human populations experiencing menopause symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.903-910
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• 2016

In this study, the expression level of estrogen receptor in an ovariectomized rat model was effectively enhanced by MS-10, Cirsium japonicum and Thymus vulgaris extract complex, in a reversible manner. MS-10 plays a positive role in enhancing estrogen activity at low concentrations, leading to improved women's health. In order to determine whether or not MS-10 improves menopausal symptoms clinically, a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical study was carried out on 62 middle-aged women treated with 500 mg of MS-10 or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Clinical menopausal symptoms were evaluated by Kupperman's index (KI) detecting various menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, parenthesis, insomnia, nervousness, melancholia, dizziness, fatigue, rheumatic pain, palpitations, formication, and headaches. Total KI score decreased significantly by about 18% upon ingestion of MS-10. Colpoxerosis, a main symptom of menopause, was significantly reduced by about 21% upon ingestion of MS-10 in contrast to placebo. In addition, reduction of insulin-like growth factor-1 with age was improved by over 10% upon ingestion of MS-10, whereas there were no significant difference with placebo. No side effects appeared after treatment with MS-10. Thus, MS-10 can be suggested as a plausible natural substance for improving women's health.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3081-3088
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• 2013

Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities were determined in the water and ethanol extracts from six species of edible seaweeds, Phaeophyceae (Laminaria japonica, Hizikia fusiformis and Undaria pinnatifida), Rhodophyceae (Porphyra tenera and Gracilaria verrucosa) and Chlorophyceae (Ulva lactuca). The highest extraction yield was observed in water extract (pH 8.0) of G. verrucosa (44.23 %) and phenolic content was the highest in ethanolic (75 %) extract of H. fusiformis (52.82 ${\mu}g/mg$). 25 % ethanolic extract from U. lactuca was found to have the highest DPPH radicals scavenging activity(19.29 %) and superoxide anion scavenging activitiy was higher in water extract (pH 8.0) from H. fusiformis (81.20 %) than that other seaweeds. Phenolic contents were strongly correlated with antioxidant activity in the six edible seaweeds extracts ($R^2$=0.852). Taken together, these results indicate that H fusiformis may be a excellent source for development of natural antioxidants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1514-1519
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Porphyra tenera (PT) on cytotoxicity and quinone reductase (QR) activity in the cancer cells. PT was extracted with methanol and further fractionated into five different types: hexane (PTMH), ethyl-ether (PTMEE), ethylacetate (PTMEA) butanol (PTMB) and aquous (PTMA) partition layers. We determined the cytotoxic effect of these layers on C6, HepG2, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines by MTT assay. Among the various fractions, hexane (PTMH) of PT showed the strongest cytotoxic effect on C6, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. PTMH displayed very low level of cytotoxicity at the lower concentration levels and at 300 $\mu$g/mL. PTMH resulted in 87.5$\%$ growth inhibition on C6 cell 70 $\%$ on the HepG2 cell and 89$\%$ on the MCF-7 cell, which were significantly high compared to other fractions. A 400 $\mu$g/mL PTMH concentration level, 99$\%$, 94.5$\%$ and 99$\%$ of cell growth inhibition were resulted on the same cell lines. On HT-29 cell line, both hexane (PTMH) and aqueous (PTMA) fraction of PT showed cytotoxic effects, but the Percentage was not as high as previous results tested on other cell lines such as C6 HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. Also, we observed quinone reductase (QR) inducing-effects in all fractions of PT on HepG2 cells. The QR inducing effects of the PTMH on HepG2 cells at 150 $\mu$g/mL concentration was 6.6 times higher than the control. Although further studies are needed, the present work suggests that PT was a potential to be used as a chemopreventive.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.927-932
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• 1998

The antioxidant activity of Symphyocladia latiuscula was determined by measuring lipid peroxide produced when a mouse liver homogenate was exposed to the air at $37^{\circ}C$, using 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and radical scavenging effect on 1,1 - diphenyl - 2 - picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, and free radical generation inhibition by $ACF_2$(Hepatocyte). The methanol extract of S. latiuscula showed high antioxidant activity. And the methanol extract was fractionated with several solvents. With regard their fractions, the antioxidant activity were in the order of dichloromethane > hexane > butanol > ethyl acetate > water fraction. The dichloromethane fraction showed the strongest radical scavenging activity ($50\%$ inhibitory concentration[$IC_{50}$]=3,14 $\mu$g/ml), and strong inhibitory effect on the lipid peroxidation of the mouse liver homogenate, which was compared with lascorbic acid, inhibition effect was stronger than Lascorbic acid. The methanol extract of S. latiuscula and its dichlromethane soluble fraction also inhibited over $50\%$ at concentration of 0.2 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml on free radical generation of hepatocyte ($AC_2F$). While the water fraction was inactive in all the assay for antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 1996

Macroalgal community was analysed from December 1993 to October 1994 in Yonggwang vicinity, western coast of Korea. A total 51 species (12 green, 11 brown and 29 red algae) of marine algae were identified. Among four localities, the number of species observed was the highest as 34 species at Shimwon and the least as 31 species at Sunchanggum and Gamakdo. Seasonally, the number of species observed was the highest as 42 species in winter and the least as 18 species in summer. The species showing relatively high important value were Enteromorpha compressa, Sargassum thunbergii, Corallina pilulifera and Carpopeltis affinis, which were all common to four investigated localities. Seasonal and regional fluctuations of mean biomass was $66.0\~820.0\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Hyanghado, $248.3\~886.3\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Sunchanggum, $154.5\~510.2\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Gamakdo and $85.0\~451.9\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Shimwon, respectively. The flora investigated could be classified into six functional groups such as coarsely branched form $(41.2\%)$, sheet form $(25.5\%)$, filamentous form $(19.6\%)$, thick leathery $(7.8\%)$, crustous form $(3.9\%)$ and jointed calcarious form algae $(2.0\%)$. At the effluent area of the nuclear power plants, the algal composition of functional groups may affect species composition due to thermal pollution.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.328-340
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• 1987

In order to clarify major reasons of a poor harvest, the Porphyra-cultivation ground was investigated in Kwangyang Bay in terms of the laver production per unit area, diseases, and fouling organisms from January to April in 1986. The laver production per unit area of the control station was more than that of the study area at 'Soppal' cultivation ground, while the difference at the cultivation groud using 'nets' seemed to be insignificant. The vertical attachment range of laver was directly associated with the production per unit area at 'Soppal' cultivation ground. The number of young thalli of 1-3 mm length was almost similar between control and study sites at 'nets' cultivation ground. Two kinds of diseases in cultured laver, the crape and shot hole, were prevalent during the study period. However, the affected thalli were gradually decreased at the end of the study period. Major fouling organisms attached to 'Soppal' were Balanus albicostatus, Enteromorpha prolifera, Capsosiphon fulvescens, and Scytosiphon lomentaria. In conclusion, the poor harvest of laver in 1986 may result from such following problems as the decrease in vertical attachment range of laver and fouling problems as the decrease in vertical attachment range of laver and fouling organisms at 'Soppal' cultivation ground, prevalence of certain diseases, changes in environmental conditions, arrangement and maintenance of facilities for laver cultivation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

The seaweed, Gracilaria verrucosa, was fermented to produce bioethanol. Optimal pretreatment conditions were determined to be 12% (w/v) seaweed slurry and 270 mM sulfuric acid at 121℃ for 60 min. After thermal acid hydrolysis, enzymatic saccharification was carried out with 16 U/ml of mixed enzymes using Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5 L to G. verrucosa hydrolysates. A total monosaccharide concentration of 50.4 g/l, representing 84.2% conversion of 60 g/l total carbohydrate from 120 g dw/l G. verrucosa slurry was obtained by thermal acid hydrolysis and enzymatic saccharification. G. verrucosa hydrolysate was used as the substrate for ethanol production by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). Ethanol production by Candida lusitaniae ATCC 42720 acclimated to high-galactose concentrations was 22.0 g/l with ethanol yield (Y_EtOH) of 0.43. Acclimated yeast to high concentrations of specific sugar could utilize mixed sugars, resulting in higher ethanol yields in the seaweed hydrolysates medium.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1999

Numerous observations revealed strong evidence of increased middle ultraviolet radiation or UV-B (280 ~ 320 nm) at the earth's surface resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion. UV is the waveband of electromagnetic radiation which is strongly absorbed by nucleic acids and proteins, thus causing damage to living systems. It has been recorded in the East Sea, Korea that solar UV-B impinging on the ocean surface penetrates seawater to significant depths. Recent researches showed that exposure to UV-B for as short as 2h at the ambient level (2.0 Wm$^{-2}$) decreased macroalgal growth and photosynthesis and destroyed photosynthetic pigments. These may suggest that UV-B could be an important environmental factor to determine algal survival and distribution. Some adaptive mechanisms to protect macroalgae from UV-damage have been found, which include photoreactivation and formation of UV-absorbing pigments. Post-illumination of visible light mitigated UV-induced damage in laminarian young sporophytes with blue the most effective waveband. The existence of UV-B absorbing pigments has been recognized in the green alga, Ulva pertusa and the red alga, Pachymeniopsis sp., which is likely to exert protective function for photosynthetic pigments inside the thalli from UV-damage. Further studies are however needed to confirm that these mechanisms are of general occurrence in seaweeds. Macroalgae together with phytoplankton are the primary producers to incorporate about 100 Gt of carbons per year, and provide half of the total biomass on the earth. UV-driven reduction in macroalgal biomass, if any, would therefore cause deleterious effects on marine ecosystem. The ultimate impacts of increasing UV-B flux due to ozone destruction are still unknown, but the impression from UV studies made so far seems to highlight the importance of setting up long-term monitoring system for us to be able to predict and detect the onset of large -scale deterioration in aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1004-1009
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• 2013

The biochemical compositions and nutritive values of six species of seaweeds were analyzed to determine their applicability in functional foods or ingredients. The biochemical compositions (moisture, ash, protein, lipid, and dietary fiber) and fatty acid contents were determined for the following seaweed extracts: Phaeophyceae (Laminaria japonica, Hizikia fusiformis, and Undaria pinnatifida), Rhodophyceae (Porphyra tenera and Gracilaria verrucosa), and Chlorophyceae (Ulva lactuca). The moisture content (% dry weight) ranged from 11.47% to 13.94%, ash from 19.15% to 26.50%, protein from 5.08% to 15.44%, lipid from 2.75% to 4.43%, and dietary fiber from 36.84% to 52.98%. C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C16:1, C18: 1n-3, C18:2n-6, C18:3n-6, C20:4n-6, and C20:5n-3 represented the predominant proportions of fatty acids. Interestingly, docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) was either not found or only detected in trace amounts in the analyzed seaweeds. The levels of n-3 fatty acid were higher than other polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the n-6/n-3 ratio was very low. These results indicate that seaweed inhabiting Korean coastal areas will be beneficial to human health.