• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2010

Codium fragile (CF) is an edible green alga consumed as a traditional food source in Korea. In this study, the ethanol extract of CF was evaluated to determine if it has anti-inflammatory activity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a toxin from bacteria, is a potent inducer of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-6. Therefore, we studied whether CF extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced murine macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7). In the present study, IL-6 production was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), prostaglandin $E_2$($PGE_2$) production was measured using the EIA kit, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation were determined by Western blot analysis. IL-6 mRNA, COX-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA expression were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results indicated that CF extracts inhibit LPS-induced IL-6, NO and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner, as well as expression of iNOS and COX-2. CF extracts significantly inhibited LPS-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 phosphorylation. Taken together, these findings may help elucidate the mechanism by which CF modulates RAW 264.7 cell activation under inflammatory conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze proximate composition, dietary fiber, mineral content, fatty acid composition in Cheonggak (Codium fragile) in order to encourage the consumption of Cheonggak. The proximate composition of Cheonggak was found to be 5.51% moisture, 24.09% crude ash, 15.79% crude protein, 2.47% crude lipid and 45.31% dietary fiber. The major mineral content of Cheonggak was Na 8,950 mg/100 g, Mg 1,252 mg/100 g, Ca 807 mg/100 g, K 457 mg/100 g, and trace mineral content was Fe 26 mg/100 g, Mn 8 mg/100 g, Zn 0.4 mg/100 g. Palmitic acid 36.86% and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid 20.14% were the most contained fatty acids in Cheonggak. The ratio of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids was 85.49% while ${\omega}-6$ fatty acids to ${\omega}-3$ fatty acids were 59.10%. Based on the proximate composition, dietary fiber, mineral content, and fatty acid composition, Cheonggak was judged to be a major source of dietary fiber and Mg and Ca, and it was deemed to be helpful in promoting health, including the prevention of hyperlipidemia. Cheonggak contained valuable nutrients similar to seaweed, which is produced and consumed the most in Korea. Thus, it is necessary to include Cheonggak in the food items.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2023

Objectives : Fine dust caused by environmental pollution cause oxidative damage and skin aging. In this study, The possibility of using the Codium fragile extract (CFE) as an anti-aging product for skin improvement was evaluated by confirming the protective effect of skin cells from PM10 (particulate matter 10) through inhibition of ROS and MMPs. Methods : In this study, elastase and collagenase inhibitory activities were evaluated. Cell viability was evaluated by treating keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) with CFE at various concentrations. The cytoprotective effect from PM10 in keratinocyteswas evaluated using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol]-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. ROS (reactive oxygen species) was measured in keratinocytes damaged by PM10 using DCF-DA (2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate) fluorescence staining. As an anti-aging effect of CFE, MMP-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1) and MMP-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) inhibitory activities were evaluated. Results : As a result, CFE decreased the activity of elastase and collagenase. As a result of evaluating the toxicity of CFE, it is non-toxic at a concentration of 10 to 80 ㎍/㎖. Although cell viability of HaCaT cells treated with PM10 decreased, cell viability increased by 38% when treated with CFE 80 ㎍/㎖. Also, ROS decreased by 8.4%, and MMP-1 and MMP-9 decreased at CFE 80 ㎍/㎖. Conclusions : CFE showed excellent cell protection effect, and it is considered that it can be used in anti-aging products for skin improvement by effectively inhibiting ROS and MMPs from keratinocyte damage caused by fine dust.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.953-959
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• 2010

We extracted bioactive materials from Codium fragile by enzymatic hydrolysis using four different proteases (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, and Protamex) and seven different carbohydrases (amyloglucosidase (AMG), Celluclast, Dextrozyme, Maltogenase, Promozyme, Termamyl, and Viscozyme), and evaluated their biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and anti-inflammatory effects. All enzymatic hydrolysates showed good DPPH radical scavenging capacities, in particular, Flavourzyme and Promozyme hydrolysates possessed the highest activity. The two hydrolysates also exhibited strong hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity, and reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the two hydrolysates effectively protected DNA damage induced by hydroxyl radical by measuring the conversion of supercoiled DNA to the open circular DNA. All enzymatic hydrolysates also showed high anti-AChE inhibitory activities in a dose-dependent manner, and did not showed any significant cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 cells (p<0.05). In addition, the enzymatic hydrolysates significantly (p<0.05) inhibited lipopolysaccharide induced-nitric oxide production on RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that the enzymatic extracts from Codium fragile would be good source as an ingredient of functional foods.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.890-895
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• 2021

This study investigated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of bread containing Codium fragile powder (CFP; 1, 3, 5%). As the CFP content increased, the fermentation expansion (%) of the dough significantly decreased (P<0.05). No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the moisture content (%) of bread as the CFP content increased, but the pH and weight significantly increased (P<0.05). The bread volume, specific volume, and baking loss significantly decreased (P<0.05) as the CFP content increased. The L, a and b Hunter colors on the bread crust showed a tendency to decrease (P<0.05) as the CFP content increased. Compared with the control, the bread crumb darkened and presented a green color as the CFP content increased. Compared with the control (DPPH, 4.10%, ABTS, 2.17%), the free radical scavenging activities of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS [2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] as antioxidant indices gradually increased (P>0.05) with the CFP content increased (DPPH, 9.77-18.63%, ABTS, 4.30-11.40%). Collectively, these results can make a compelling case for the functional development of CPP-containing bread due to its antioxidant properties. Furthermore, this study intends to contribute to the development of various processed seaweed foods by expanding the availability of CFP, which is easy to use and store for a long time.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.736-745
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• 2021

Although various marine ingredients have been exploited for the development of cosmetic products, no previous study has examined the potential of seaweed extracellular vesicles (EV) in such applications. Our results revealed that EV from Codium fragile and Sargassum fusiforme effectively decreased α-MSH-mediated melanin synthesis in MNT-1 human melanoma cells, associated with downregulation of MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), tyrosinase and TRP1 (tyrosinase-related proteins 1). The most effective inhibitory concentrations of EV were 250 ㎍/ml for S. fusiforme and 25 ㎍/ml for C. fragile, without affecting the viability of MNT-1 cells. Both EV reduced melanin synthesis in the epidermal basal layer of a three-dimensional model of human epidermis. Moreover, the application of the prototype cream containing C. fragile EV (final 5 ㎍/ml) yielded 1.31% improvement in skin brightness in a clinical trial. Together, these results suggest that EV from C. fragile and S. fusiforme reduce melanin synthesis and may be potential therapeutic and/or supplementary whitening agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.484-489
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• 2016

Living organisms can maintain or extend their territories by producing allelochemicals that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. To identify natural biostimulants of positive allelochemicals, we screened 18 common seaweed extracts for enhancement of rhizoid and blade production in a convenient Porphyra suborbiculata monospore assay. By addition of methanolic extract from the most potent green seaweed, Codium fragile, 100% and 50% enhancement doses reflecting the amount of C. fragile extract required to enhance rhizoid formation (in terms of number of spores with rhizoids per total spores tested) were approximately 100 and 50 μg/ml, respectively, in the P. suborbiculata monospore culture. The C. fragile extract quickly enhanced rhizoid formation, rhizoid numbers per rhizoid-holding spore, rhizoid length, blade formation (in number of spores with blade per total spores tested), and blade length from most monospores at early culture days. The extract enhanced rhizoid formation after 2 days of culture significantly, rhizoid numbers per rhizoid-holding spore after 3 days, rhizoid length after 3 days, blade formation after 2 days, and blade length after 1 day, respectively, from most monospores. The allelochemicals that enhanced favorite seaweed species may be efficacious for new seaweed management technologies, including the development of biostimulant agents based on natural products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.213-218
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• 2006

The study of genetic diversity and population structure was carried out in the Codium fragile using allozyme analysis. Although this species has been regarded as a ecologically and economically important source, there is no report on population structure in Korea. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the allozyme variation and genetic structure of four Korean populations of this species. Of the 15 genetic loci surveyed, nine (60.0%) was polymorphic in at least one population. Genetic diversity was high at the species level ($H_{ES}$=0.144), and, that of the population level was relatively low ($H_{EP}$=0.128). Nearly 87% of the total genetic diversity in C. fragile was apportioned within populations. The predominant asexual reproduction, population fragmentation, low fecundity, geographic isolation and colonization process are proposed as possible factors contributing to low genetic diversity in this species. The indirect estimated of gene flow based on $G_{ST}$ was 1.69. The moderate level of gene flow in C. fragile populations is mainly caused by thallus developed from isolated utricles dispersal via sea current.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2006

Studies have been made of the species composition and variation of benthic marine algae at subtidal zone of Uljin on the east coast of Korea. Destructive method was employed to measure biomass over four seasons (2000-2002). Of 87 marine algae species identified, 11 were Chlorophyta, 29 were Phaeophyta and 47 were Rhodophyta. Dominant species in biomass were Ulva pertusa, Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum piluliferum in summer, Laminaria religiosa, Sargassum fulvellum and Gigartina tenella in autumn, Codium fragile, Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum horneri, S. piluliferum and S. ringgoldianum in winter, and Undaria pinnatifida, Dictyopteris divaricata, Sargassum confusum and S. horneri in spring. In general, green algae (Ulva pertusa, Codium fragile) and brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum fulvellum, S. horneri, S. piluliferum) appeared predominantly in the 3, 6 m depths and red algae (Gelidium amansii, Plocamium telfairiae) in the 9, 12 m depths. The barren ground of the rocky shore might provide the decrease of benthic marine algae biomass and species.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2021

To evaluate the protective effect of Codium fragile on fine dust (PM2.5)-induced cytotoxicity, we investigated its antioxidant activity and cell protective effect on PM2.5-exposed cells. The 40% ethanolic extract of C. fragile showed the highest total phenolic content, whereas the water extract of C. fragile showed the highest total polysaccharide content. The protective effect of the extracts on PM2.5-induced oxidative damage in nasal cavity (RPMI2650), lung (A549), brain (MC-IXC), hippocampus (HT-22), and microglia (BV-2) cells was evaluated by measuring the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cell viability. The results showed that the 40% ethanolic extract more efficiently inhibited ROS production than the water extract. In contrast, PM2.5-exposed cells treated with the water extract showed higher viability than those treated with the 40% ethanolic extract.