• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.561-567
• /
• 2021

The edible sargasso seaweed hijiki Sargassum fusiforme is known to have high concentration of arsenic, which is a threat to human health, particularly due to inorganic arsenic. In this study, various methods were used to remove inorganic arsenic from steamed hijiki concentrate. The highest concentration of arsenate [As(V)] in both raw and processed hijiki during steamed hijiki manufacturing process was within the range of 8.213-14.356 mg/kg, and it is a potential source of inorganic arsenic, which can result in re-contamination and cause environmental pollution. The removal efficiencies of the various removal methods were within the range of 57.3-83.4%, and 19.0% reduction was achieved using activated carbon and alginate bead. Further, activated carbon showed the best adsorption effect of inorganic arsenic. Therefore, we suggest that activated carbon is a suitable efficient method for removing inorganic arsenic and has low operational costs in field applicability.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2019

We investigated the protective effects of antioxidant fractions from a 70% ethanolic extract of Hizikia fusiformis in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Powdered H. fusiformis was extracted with 70% ethanol and then partitioned into three fractions according to polarity using n-hexane (HFH), chloroform (HFC), and ethyl acetate (HFEA). Antioxidant activity was observed in HFEA at 0.66 mg/mL based on the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and at 0.24 mg/mL based on alkyl radical scavenging. The protective effects of the HFEA antioxidant fraction against 2,2-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-damaged HDFs and the expression of Type I procollagen in HDFs were examined. HFEA caused the proliferation of HDFs with and without AAPH treatment and protected against AAPH damage to HDFs in a dose-dependent manner ($50-200{\mu}g/mL$). This implies that the antioxidant properties of the fractions depended on their proliferative and protective effects. The HFEA antioxidant fraction had significant effects and caused the dose-dependent expression of Type I procollagen, an important anti-wrinkle protein, in HDFs. In conclusion, antioxidant substances in H. fusiformis were found in the ethyl acetate fraction, and the resulting HFEA may have cosmetic applications.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.6.1-6.10
• /
• 2019

Background: This study is aimed at identifying the anti-inflammatory properties of 70% ethanol extract produced from an edible brown seaweed Sargassum horneri (SJB-SHE) with industrial-scale production by Seojin Biotech Co. Ltd. S. horneri is a rich source of nutrient and abundantly growing along the shores of Jeju, South Korea. Methods: Here, we investigated the effect of SJB-SHE on LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cytotoxicity and NO production of SJB-SHE were evaluated using MTT and Griess assays, respectively. Additionally, protein expression and gene expression levels were quantified using ELISA, Western blots, and RT-qPCR. Results: Our results indicated that pre-treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with SJB-SHE significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production. SJB-SHE downregulated the proteins and genes expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX2. Additionally, SJB-SHE downregulated LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$). Furthermore, SJB-SHE inhibited nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation and translocation to the nucleus. SJB-SHE also suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2 and JNK). Conclusions: Collectively, our results demonstrated that SJB-SHE has a potential anti-inflammatory property to use as a functional food ingredient in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2021

The monthly variability in marine algal flora and community structure was examined in the intertidal zones of Doripo, and the biomass of an edible alga, Ulva prolifera, at Gaip-ri of Hampyong Bay on the southwestern coast of Korea was investigated over one year from April 2008 to March 2009. A total of 22 seaweeds were identified including five green, four brown, and 13 red algae. Based on importance value, Ulva australis was dominant over the year and the subdominant species were Ulva linza and Caulacanthus ustulatus at the Doripo coast of Hampyong Bay. The vertical distribution in terms of importance values was in the order of Ulva linza - C. ustulatus - U. australis - Sargassum thunbergii from the upper to the lower intertidal zones. The biomass of U. prolifera ranged between 2.4-98.2 g dry wt. m^-2, with a maximum in June and a minimal in November. In the field, U. prolifera biomass could be positively related to seawater temperature. However, further research on the association between biomass and other environmental factors such as nutrients and light intensity is required.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.175-186
• /
• 2022

Sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), an important edible seaweed belonging to the brown algal family of Alariaceae, contains copious physiologically active substances. It has long been popular in Korea as a food and is frequently consumed in the form of soup. It is also commercially available as a home meal replacement. In this study, we developed a seasoning key base with a high degree of sensory preference from sea mustard using the extrusion cooking process. Extrusion cooking conditions were optimized through response surface methodology. Barrel temperature (X₁, 140℃-160℃) and screw speed (X₂, 158-315 rpm) were set as independent variables, and overall preference was determined as the dependent variable (Y, points). An optimal condition was obtained at X₁ = 148.5℃ and X₂ = 315 rpm, and the dependent variable (Y, overall acceptance) was 7.95 points, similar to the experimental value of 7.81. Umami taste had a relationship with the overall acceptance of sea mustard seasoning. In the electronic nose and tongue, increased sourness and umami intensities were associated with the highest sensory score. The samples were separated well by each characteristic via principal component analysis. Collectively, our study provides imperative preliminary data for the development of various seasonings using sea mustard.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2015

Objectives : Laver (Porphyra tenera), a red algae species, is one of the most widely consumed edible seaweed in Korea. Laver contains various substances such as essential amino acid, fiber, minerals and polyphenols that benefit human health. In the present study, we prepared ethanol extracts from commercially processed product of Porphyra tenera, and evaluated the growth inhibitory effect against human oral squamous carcinoma YD-10B cells. Methods : Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis was confirmed by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry with the green fluorescent dye FITC annexin V entering apoptotic cells and the red fluorescent dye PI not entering. The expression of the relevant proteins was detected using Western blot. Results : Ethanol extracts of Porphyra tenera (PTE, $50-200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) caused a significant decrease of cell viability in a dose dependant manner. The cell death occurred as a result of apoptotic process as determined by TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis. In line with this observation, decrease in procaspase proteins and increase in cytosolic cytochrome c were observed in cells treated with PTE. In addition, exposure to PTE decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2, and induced PARP cleavage and AIF translocation from mitochondria to nucleus. Conclusions : In conclusion, PTE exerts anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis via caspase activation and AIF nuclear translocation in YD-10B cells. These results provide evidence for the possible therapeutic effect of Porphyra tenera in oral cancer cells.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.47-55
• /
• 2014

To develop effective and safe acne vulgaris therapies with a continuing demand for new solutions, we investigated unique efficacy of an antibacterial agent from marine brown alga Eisenia bicyclis in treating acne vulgaris. The methanolic extract of E. bicyclis exhibited potential antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the bacteria among solvent fractions. Six compounds (1-6), previously isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. bicyclis, were evaluated for antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria. Among them, compound 2 (fucofuroeckol-A [FF]) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against acne-related bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 32 to $128{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Furthermore, FF clearly reversed the high-level erythromycin and lincomycin resistance of Propionibacterium acnes. The MIC values of erythromycin against P. acnes were dramatically reduced from 2,048 to $1.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ in combination with MIC of FF ($64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of erythromycin and lincomycin were measured from 0.500 to 0.751 in combination with 32 or $64{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of FF against all tested P. acnes strains, suggesting that FF-erythromycin and FF-lincomycin combinations exert a weak synergistic effect against P. acnes. The results of this study suggest that the compounds derived from E. bicyclis can be a potential source of natural antibacterial agents and a pharmaceutical component against acnerelated bacteria.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1396-1402
• /
• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of edible brown seaweed that grows mainly in the northwest Pacific including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as food in Korea. Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production is thought to have beneficial immunomodulatory effects in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracts of H. fusiforme on the expression of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 human pre-monocytic cell models. In U937 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to mimic inflammation, methanol extract of H. fusiforme (MEHF) and ethanol extract of H. fusiforme (EEHF), but not water extract of H. fusiforme (WEHF), inhibited PMA-induced expression of both COX-2 protein and mRNA, which was associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. To investigate the mechanism by which MEHF and EEHF inhibit COX-2 gene expression and $PGE_2$ production, we examined the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-$\kappa$B) in U937 cells. Pre-treatment with MEHF and EEHF significantly attenuated the PMA-induced IkappaB degradation and prevented nuclear translocation of NF-$\kappa$B. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of H. fusiforme.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.576-583
• /
• 2011

In the course of study for the development of functional food ingredients from seaweeds having useful biological activities, the in-vitro antioxidant and nitrite scavenging activities of the methanol extracts prepared from 35 different seaweeds (17 phaeophyta, 11 rhodophyta and 7 chlorophyta) were determined. At $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration of the methanol extracts, Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia stolonifera, Eisenia bicyclis (Kjellman) Setchell, Ishige foliacea, I. okamurai, Sargassum confusum, S. fulvellum, S. yamade and Zostera marina showed 60% more DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity. The exceptions were found in I. okamurai and Z. marina, which showed 45% and 53% ABTS scavenging activity, respectively. The correlation coefficient between DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities was 0.855, suggesting that the 9 different seaweeds extracts could scavenge anion and cation radicals concurrently. In reducing power, only E.cava, E.stolonifera and E.bicyclis showed above 0.88 ($Abs_{700}$). In a while, in nitrite scavenging activity at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentration of the methanol extracts, 19 different seaweeds extracts including I. foliacea, I. okamurai, S. confusum, S. fulvellum, and S. yamade showed 60% more activity. Calculation of $IC_{50}s$ of DPPH, ABTS and nitrite scavenging activities of 9 different seaweeds extracts further showed that I. foliacea and S. yamade, besides E.cava, E.stolonifera and E.bicyclis, have strong antioxidant and nitrite scavenging activity. These results suggest that the selected 9 different seaweeds could be developed as functional food ingredients and I. foliacea and S. yamade have potential as novel natural sources of antioxidant and nitrite scavenger.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.3-10
• /
• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sargassum horneri is an edible brown alga that grows in the subtidal zone as an annual species along the coasts of South Korea, China, and Japan. Recently, an extreme amount of S. horneri moved into the coasts of Jeju Island from the east coast of China, which made huge economic and environmental loss to the Jeju Island. Thus, utilization of this biomass becomes a big issue with the local authorities. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of crude polysaccharides (CPs) extracted from S. horneri China strain in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: CPs were precipitated from S. horneri digests prepared by enzyme assistant extraction using four food-grade enzymes (AMG, Celluclast, Viscozyme, and Alcalase). The production levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ were measured by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were measured by using western blot. The IR spectrums of the CPs were recorded using a fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrometer. RESULTS: The polysaccharides from the Celluclast enzyme digest (CCP) showed the highest inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}$ value: $95.7{\mu}g/mL$). Also, CCP dose-dependently down-regulated the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared to the only LPS-treated cells. In addition, CCP inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 and p65 and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, FT-IR analysis showed that the FT-IR spectrum of CCP is similar to that of commercial fucoidan. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CCP has anti-inflammatory activities and is a potential candidate for the formulation of a functional food ingredient or/and drug to treat inflammatory diseases.