• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 2016

To examine the effects of two endophytic algae, Mikrosyphar zosterae (brown alga) and Ulvella ramosa (green alga), on the host Chondrus ocellatus (red alga), culture experiments were conducted. Four treatments were made: endophyte-free (Chondrus only), endophyte-M (Chondrus + Mikrosyphar), endophyte-U (Chondrus + Ulvella), and endophytes-M U (Chondrus + Mikrosyphar + Ulvella). After 3 weeks, the relative growth rates (RGRs) of frond lengths and the number of newly formed bladelets were examined. M. zosterae formed wart-like dots on C. ocellatus fronds, whereas U. ramosa made dark spots. The RGRs of frond lengths of C. ocellatus were significantly greater in the endophyte-free and endophyte-M treatment groups than in the endophyte-U and endophytes-M U treatment groups, indicating that the growth of host C. ocellatus was inhibited more by the green endophyte U. ramosa than the brown endophyte M. zosterae. The number of newly produced bladelets was greater in the endophyte-U and endophytes-M U groups than in the endophyte-free and endophyte-M treatment groups. These results indicate that the two endophytes inhibit growth of the host C. ocellatus. The negative effects of U. ramosa on C. ocellatus growth were more severe than those caused by M. zosterae. Furthermore, U. ramosa destroyed the apical meristems of C. ocellatus, whereas M. zosterae did not. On the other hand, C. ocellatus showed compensatory growth in the form of lateral branch production as U. ramosa attacked its apical meristems.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.268-277
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• 2016

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol extract from Chondrus ocellatus Holmes (COHEE) in RAW 264.7 cells and in a mouse ear edema model, by measuring the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response mediators. There were no cytotoxic effects on the proliferation of macrophages treated with COHEE compared with the control. COHEE inhibited the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β]. The extract also reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor-κB p65, and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase in a dose-dependent manner. In the croton-oil-induced ear edema model, COHEE decreased the formation of mouse ear edema at the highest dose compared with the control, and histological analysis revealed that the epidermal/dermal tissue thickness and mast cell numbers were reduced. Therefore, these results suggest that COHEE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory therapeutic material through its action of modulating NF-κB and the MAPK signaling pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.400-408
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• 2006

Nutritional components of 4 kinds of red seaweeds, Meristotheca papulosa, Chondrus ocellatus, Gracilaria verrucosa, Gigartina tenella, were investigated to elucidate their functionality. Antioxidant activity and nitrite scavenging activity were analyzed from 70% ethanol extracted from these red seaweeds. Large difference in ash contents was found to exhibit among all samples analyzed in this study; $9.8{\pm}0.2g/100g$ for Gracilaria verrucosa and Gigartina tenella for $17.8{\pm}0.6g/100g$. While its crude fiber content was almost the same as those in other sample within a range between $2.0{\pm}0.4g/100g$ and $6.0{\pm}0.7g/100g$. Phenolic compounds content of Gracilaria verrucosa was also the highest as $78.4{\pm}1.0mg/g$, while the total flavonoids contents of Chondrus ocellatus and Gracilaria verrucosa were $14.9{\pm}0.5mg/g$ and $13.9{\pm}0.8mg/g$, respectively. These amounts were two folds higher than Meristotheca papulosa and Gigartina tenella. The total content of minerals was the highest in Meristotheca papulosa(12,107.7 mg/kg). The amount of glutamic acid was relatively high despite of small variation in measured levels of composition amino acid ($49.1{\sim}125.6mg/g$) for most samples investigated. SOD-like ability was significantly increased with increasing sample concentration, but its activity was lower. Gigartina tenella with highest electron donation ability exhibited increases in activity as $53.96{\pm}0.98%$ in concentration of 250 ${\mu}g/ml$ and $70.52{\pm}1.09%$ in 1000 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In case of concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, particularly, the level of hydroxy radical scavenging activity were $57.87{\pm}1.70{\sim}62.07{\pm}0.87%$ which was significantly higher activity than ascorbic acid and BHT. Nitrite scavenging activity was the highest in Gracilaria verrucosa. Its activity was also increased from $24.04{\pm}1.9{\sim}27.52{\pm}0.82%$ in $100{\sim}500{\mu}g/ml$ concentration tp $34.81{\pm}1.36%$ in concentration of 1000 ${\mu}g/ml$.