• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2023

The control of intestinal α-amylase and α-glucosidase is an effective therapeutic strategy for prevention of post-prandial hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetes activities of Korean edible seaweed against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, two carbolytic enzymes involved in serum glucose regulation. Of the 41 species initially screened, Cladophora wrightiana var. minor, Eisenia bicyclis, Ecklonia cava, Ishige foliacea, and Ishige okamurae exhibited the strongest inhibitory activities from brown seaweeds. Asparagopsis taxiformis showed the strongest inhibitory effects from red seaweeds. The results of this study suggest that the crude brown seaweed extracts (C. wrightiana var. minor, E. bicyclis, E. cava, I. foliacea, and I. okamurae) and crude red seaweed extracts (A. taxiformis) may have beneficial effects suppressing the rise in postprandial hyperglycemia through the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2009

Temporal variations of seaweed biomass and coverage were seasonally examined at Ongdo in the Yellow Sea, Korea from August 2006 to April 2008. Average seaweed biomass was 245.79 g/$m^2$ in wet weight and coverage was 16.49% with seasonal variations from 13.97% in spring to 18.55% in autumn. Seaweeds were distributed across the shore gradient from the high intertidal to 10m depth in the subtidal zone. Biomass was always higher in the subtidal zone (310.24 g/$m^2$) than in the intertidal zone (181.35 g/$m^2$). Of total seaweed biomass, 76.52% (first year) and 80.32% (second year) occurred from the low intertidal zone, down to depth of 1 to 5m. Gelidium amansii had the highest importance value and biomass, and sub dominant species were Chondrus ocellatus and Chondria crassicaulis. Coarsely-branched seaweeds comprised the highest proportion of biomass (214.84 g/$m^2$, or 87.41% of the total biomss). Seasonal variations in algal biomass were largely explained by fluctuations in the biomass of coarsely-branched and thick-leathery forms. In conclusion, seaweed biomass of Ongdo shore was very low because of perennial G. amansii showing low biomass as compared to kelp or Sargassum spp. However, these results indicate Ongdo is good place to grow seaweeds because coarsely-branched form seaweeds including G. amansii are dominant at unpolluted and clean environment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2018

This study investigated the effects of selected seaweeds on rice koji preparation (rice inoculated with Aspergillus luchuensis) and enzyme activity. Four types of rice koji were prepared using one of three seaweeds (0.5% laver, 0.5% kelp and 0.5% green laver) or a control for 72 h. The changes in the moisture content, water activity, pH, total mold cell count, amylase and protease activities were measured. During preparation, there was no significant difference in the moisture content among the four kojis, whereas the pH in the kojis made with either laver or green laver decreased rapidly compared with the control (P<0.05). This seemed to result from the seaweeds promoting the growth of mold cells. In terms of the activities of both amylase and protease, the koji with laver was superior. Subsequently, the amylase and protease activities of the koji made with laver were evaluated at various pHs (3 to 9), temperatures ($15-55^{\circ}C$) and NaCl concentrations (0-10%). The activities of both enzymes decreased notably at pH 9 and the protease activity decreased at temperatures above $45^{\circ}C$. Although the activities of both enzymes decreased at greater than 2.5% NaCl, activity was present at 10% NaCl.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.836-843
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• 2022

In the present study, exposure to heavy metals by consumption of edible seaweeds (green laver, laver, hijiki, sea tangle, and sea mustard) was assessed based on their concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). The mean of heavy metal concentrations were 0.006-0.023 mg/kg for Pb, 0.037-0.156 mg/kg for Cd, 1.117-15.928 mg/kg for As, and 0.008-0.021 mg/kg for Hg. In multivariate analysis, the correlations were high between Pb levels in sea mustard, Cb levels in laver, and As and Hg level in Hijiki. However, the estimated daily intake and target hazard quotient (THQ) of the heavy metals in edible seaweeds were below their approved limits suggesting no health risks associated with seaweed consumption by Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1464-1470
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• 2005

To assure the safety of the major edible seaweeds, we collected the 176 samples of seaweeds such as laver(Porphyra sp.), sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) and sea lettuce (Enter-omorph sp.) from Korean coast. We investigated the contents of the trace metals in the edible seaweeds, and the values were expressed as the dry weight of sea weeds. The mean levels of the trace metals were high in the oder of Zn ($36.19{\pm}27.14 \;{\mu}g/g$), Mn ($28.75{\pm}28.03\;{\mu}g/g$), and Cu ($6.82{\pm}7.62\;{\mu}g/g$), which are necessary metals in the human body, and then followed by Cr ($1.54{\pm}2.07\;{\mu}g/g$), Ni ($1.29{\pm}2.57\;{\mu}g/g$), Pb ($0.89{\pm}1.11\;{\mu}g/g$), Cd ($0.72{\pm}0.80\;{\mu}g/g$) and Hg ($0.01{\pm}0.02\;{\mu}g/g$). The contents of Cd and Zn were high in the laver, Cr, Ni and Pb were detected highly in sea lettuce, and Hg was detected highly in sea tangle. Significant linear correlations were obtained among 28 different pairs of metals, some of them highly correlated (r>0.5, p<0.05),such as Ni-Mn, Zn-Ni, Cu-Pb and Cu-Zn in laver, Ni-Zn in sea mustard, Cu-Pb, Cu-Zn and Mn-Pb in sea tangle, and Ni-Cr in sea lettuce. And, the trace metal contents of seaweeds varied with parts and kinds of samples. The average weekly intakes of Hg, Cd and Pb from seaweeds were about $0.07{\~}3.57\%$ of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) which has set by FAO/WHO to evaluate the safeties of trace metals in food. Therefore, it was found that they showed very safe levels in the edible seaweeds.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate preference and purchase factors of seaweed in some regional residents of Korea. Subjects were residents (n = 1,218) whose residential area was divided into inland and coastal region and the survey was done during December 2007. Especially, purchase factors of seaweeds was conducted only in married females (n = 353). The subjects are composed of 46.5% male and 53.5% female. Regional distribution of subjects was found to be 16~17%, with highest ratio in the age bracket of 20~29 years old. Proportion of students, at 29.8%, was the highest ranking occupation of the subjects. Preference score of seaweeds by region was highest for laver followed by brown seaweed and sea tangle. In terms of preference by gender, female subjects displayed higher preference score for green laver (p < 0.01), seaweed fusiforme, brown seaweed, sea tangle (p < 0.001) than the male subjects. Considerations being made when purchasing seaweeds for each region were in the order of freshness, taste and nutrition. In comparing the inland and coastal region, scores of freshness, convenience, design and color for the coastal region was higher, displaying significant difference.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.770-778
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• 1996

A rapid and economical method of simultaneous extraction of DNA and RNA from seaweeds has been developed by the use of lithium chloride. Lithium chloride facilitates the softening of cell walls resulting in a decrease in both compressive and tensile modulus of elasticity. The DNA was characterized by high molecular weight larger than 27 kb and a relative lack of carbohydrate and protein contamination. The DNA and RNA extracted by the method from many seaweeds were of sufficient quality to be used as a template for per amplification with a plant intergenic gene primer set, for RAPD analysis with arbitrary primers, and for differential display with arbitrary primers in the morphologically distinct regions of the matured Porphyra thallus. The cDNA polymorphism indicated that the reproductive tissue types (male, female, patch) had a relatively high degree of similarity; the vegetative tissue types (dividing, non-dividing) also showed a similar pattern with respect to each other. Holdfast tissue had very low similarity with the other tissues, but appeared most similar to vegetative non-dividing tissue type.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.377-385
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Abundant consumption of seaweeds in the diet is epidemiologically linked to the reduction in risk of developing cancer. In larger cases, however, identification of particular seaweeds that are accountable for these effects is still lacking, hindering the recognition of competent dietary-based chemo preventive approaches. The aim of this research was to establish the antiproliferative potency and angiosuppressive mode of action of Stoechospermum marginatum seaweed methanolic extract using various experimental models. MATERIALS/METHODS: Among the 15 seaweeds screened for antiproliferative activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cell line, Stoechospermum marginatum extract (SME) was found to be the most promising. Therefore, it was further investigated for its anti-proliferative activity in-vitro against choriocarcinoma (BeWo) and non-transformed Human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells, and for its anti-migratory/tube formation activity against HUVEC cells in-vitro. Subsequently, the angiosuppressive activity of S. marginatum was established by inhibition of angiogenesis in in-vivo (peritoneal angiogenesis and chorioallantoic membrane assay) and ex-vivo (rat cornea assay) models. RESULTS: Most brown seaweed extracts inhibited the proliferation of EAT cells, while green and red seaweed extracts were much less effective. According to the results, SME selectively inhibited proliferation of BeWo cells in-vitro in a dose-dependent manner, but had a lesser effect on HEK 293 cells. SME also suppressed the migration and tube formation of HUVEC cells in-vitro. In addition, SME was able to suppress VEGF-induced angiogenesis in the chorio allantoic membrane, rat cornea, and tumor induced angiogenesis in the peritoneum of EAT bearing mice. A decrease in the microvessel density count and CD31 antigen staining of treated mice peritoneum provided further evidence of its angiosuppressive activity. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the data underline that VEGF mediated angiogenesis is the target for the angiosuppressive action of SME and could potentially be useful in cancer prevention or treatment involving stimulated angiogenesis.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2005

Antioxidative activities of Chlorophyta and Phaeophyta in Jeju Island were measured by superoxide anion ($O_2^{{\cdot}-}$), hydroxyl radical ($HO^{\cdot}$), hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of the seaweeds were prepared at both temperatures, higher (70$^{\circ}C$) and room temperature (20$^{\circ}C$), and screened for the construction of an extract bank from seaweeds in Jeju Island. A variety of extracts showed positive effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Especially, Sargassum thunbergii methanolic extract at 70$^{\circ}C$ (70ME, 97.41%), S. fulvellum methanolic extract at 20$^{\circ}C$ (20ME, 84.66%), Codium fragile aqueous extract at 70$^{\circ}C$ (70AE, 96.61%) and S. thunbergii 20ME (97.44%) exhibited the highest scavenging activities against $O_2^{{\cdot}-}$, $HO^{\cdot}$, $H_2O_2$ and DPPH free radicals, respectively. Total phenolic contents also examined but did not show a positive correlation with ROS scavenging abilities (except for a few extracts). These results indicate that further investigation is needed to identify and purify the responsible antioxidative components.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2008

Intertidal benthic algal communities on the shores of Gujido and Daeyeonpyeongdo islets, Korea, were examined in October 2007. At both sites, 45 seaweeds including 7 green, 6 brown and 32 red algae were identified. The number of species at Gujido(38 species) was 1.5 times higher than at Daeyeonpyeongdo(25 species), but seaweed coverage was very similar with about 20%. Dominant seaweeds in terms of coverage and importance value were Hildenbrandtia sp., Caulacanthus okamurae, Ulva pertusa, and Gelidium amansii at Gujido and U. pertusa, Hildenbrandtia sp., Gelidium divaricatum at Daeyeonpyeongdo. The vertical distribution pattern of the seaweeds was G. divaricatum-U. pertusa, Hildenbrandtia sp.-U. pertusa, Hildenbrandtia sp., Ishige okamurae from upper to lower intertidal zone but seaweed zonations were not observed on the Gujido rocky shore. At both sites, coarsely-branched forms were the dominant functional group in species number and percent cover(among benthic algal species). The rocky shores of the two sites were dominated by crustose coralline and green algae, whose presence generally results in decreased seaweed biodiversity and community stability. Therefore, the shores of the Yeonpyeongdo islets are of considerable environmental concern and should be monitored for seaweed species composition and community structure.