• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.729-733
• /
• 2014

Laminaria japonica roots have not been used practically in Korea. In this study, in order to promote the use of these by-products, the anti-inflammatory activity of an ethanol extract of Laminaria japonica root (LJREE) was investigated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. To examine the potential anti-inflammatory effects of LJREE, levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and cell proliferation were measured. We found that NO levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner, the production of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ was suppressed, and the production of IL-$1{\beta}$ was inhibited over 30% after treatment with $100{\mu}g/mL$ LJREE. In conclusion, the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells, measured by MTT assay, confirmed that LJREE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors without any cytotoxicity, making it a potential anti-inflammatory agent.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.243-246
• /
• 1999

A type of symbiosis was previously described from nature in which the gametophytes of Laminariales were endophytic in filamentous red algae. Here we reconstruct this symbiosis for the first time in laboratory culture using zoospores of the kelp, Undaria pinnatifida, and the red alga, Aglaothamnion oosumiense. Zoospores of U. pinnatifida readily attached to A. oosumiense. In 48 h these spores germinated and the initial germ tube penetrated into the host cell wall leaving only an empty zoospore wall outside the host. Within ten days, four to five-celled endophytic gametophytes were present. Zoospores of Laminaria religiosa which were also inoculated into cultures of A. oosumiense rarely attached to the red alga and never became endophytic. Within ten days the free-living gametophytes of L. religiosa on cover slips became fertile and produced young sporophytes. These observations demonstrate the ability of U. pinnatifida to become endophytic, and show differences in host specificity among kelp species.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.252-256
• /
• 2005

Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution by brown sea weeds (Hizikia fusiformis, Laminaria, and Undaria pinnatifida) was 80-96% for lead, cadmium, chromium and copper ions. Fifty percent of the adsorption was completed in 4 min. The uptake of lead and cadmium ions followed Langmuir adsorption. In the adsorption experiments using single and multi metal ions 80-95% of metal ions were removed, and the removal efficiency was the best for lead ion.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.76-81
• /
• 2008

We isolated 1,916 strains of bacteria from gut and feces of abalone. The most active agarolytic bacterium, DAG-130, was identified from the gut of the abalone Haliotis gigantea. Of the bacteria harbored by both H. discus hannai and H. gigantea, 59% were agarolytic. There was no significant difference in the number of agarolytic bacteria isolated from abalone fed on the seaweeds Gelidium amansii, Laminaria japonica, or Undaria pinnatifida. Of the agarolytic bacteria, 72% were isolated from the guts of all sources tested while 43% came from the feces. The strain DAG-130 showed 100% identity with the bacterium Vibrio cyclotrophicus based on phylogenetic analysis of l6S rDNA. The bacterium produced monomers and oligomers from the agar substrate.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.12-17
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a microbial fermentation procedure to improve the functional qualities of seaweeds. Aspergillus oryzae, which has been used in traditional Korean fermented foods, was inoculated and cultivated in an aqueous extract of sea tangle (Laminaria japonica). Fermentation of the sea tangle extract by A. oryzae for 4 days resulted in a 3-fold increase in $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content. GABA is known to be a bioactive compound. Fungal fermentation of the extract also enhanced its antioxidant activity and increased its total content of phenolic compounds. It was assumed that these changes stemmed from the biodegradation of active compounds of the sea tangle packaged within its rigid structural matrix or occurred as result of fungal fermentation. These results suggested that the application of microbial fermentation to the processing of seaweeds will help in the development of processed foods to meet consumer demands.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.1391-1398
• /
• 2007

We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine whether Laminaria japonica extract (LJE) supplement modulates blood glucose, serum lipids and antioxidant systems in type II diabetic patients. We also measured critical parameters assessing safety in liver and kidney functions after LJE supplement. A total of 37 patients (18 males and 19 females) were randomized to either LJE group or placebo group. The treatment group received four 350 mg of LJE capsules (1.4 g, total) per day for 12 weeks. The placebo group received the same dose of cellulose capsules. Baseline characteristics regarding general life style and dietary intake pattern were similar between the two groups. There were no significant influences of LJE supplement except for waist circumference on anthropometric parameters. As the whole, 12 weeks of LJE supplement resulted in a little decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), but a significant decrease was not observed. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in LJE group. The antioxidant enzymes, glutathion peroxidase (GSH-px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were elevated in the LJE group (p<0.05) compared to the placebo. The increase of these enzymes was associated significantly with the decrease of MDA concentration (p<0.05). Furthermore, LJE supplement showed no adverse effects on the functions of liver and kidney. Findings from this study suggest that LJE supplement can help improve serum lipid status in type II diabetic subjects without adverse effects.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.570-579
• /
• 2011

This study created hamburger patties by substituting a portion of the meat with sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) powder and/or cooked rice to reduce fat and calories and to add the functional components of the sea tangle. Four types of experimental patties were prepared: Control, L, LI, and LII. L was the patty with sea tangle powder substituted for 2.5% of the meat and LI and LII were patties with cooked rice containing sea tangle powder substituted for 25 or 50% of the meat. In all experimental patties, moisture content increased and crude fat and cholesterol content decreased, pH increased, and malondialdehyde concentration decreased compared to those in the control. The substitutions made the color of the patties darker with dimmed redness and amplified yellowness. The substitutions also made the cooking loss weight and diameter of the patties lessen but that of thickness increased. In the sensory evaluation, symmetry and color of the patties improved significantly by substituting sea tangle powder and/or cooked rice for meat, and no adverse effect on preference for the experimental patties and hamburgers was observed. Therefore, substituting sea tangle and/or cooked rice for a portion of the meat could be used to develop healthier patties without any adverse influence on preference or sensory evaluation.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.196-205
• /
• 2011

To investigate the contribution of macroalgae to biogeochemical nutrients and carbon cycles, we measured the uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$ and characteristics of fluorescence of Saccharina japonica (Laminaria japonica Areschoug) using an incubation method in an acrylic chamber. From January to May 2011, S.japonica was sampled at Ilkwang, one of well-known macroalgae culture sites around Korea and ranged 46~288 cm long and 4.8~22.0 cm wide of whole thallus. The production rate of dissolved oxygen by S. japonica (n=25) was about $6.9{\pm}5.8{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}$ fresh weight(FW) $h^{-1}$. The uptake rate of total dissolved inorganic carbon ($TCO_2$), calculated by total alkalinity and pH, was $8.9{\pm}7.9{\mu}mol\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. Mean nutrients uptake were $175.6{\pm}161.1\;nmol\;N\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$ and $12.7{\pm}10.1\;nmol\;P\;g^{-1}\;FW\;h^{-1}$. There were logarithmic relationships between thallus length and uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$, which suggested that younger specimens (<100-150 cm) were much more efficient at nutrients and $CO_2$ uptake than old specimens > 150 cm. There was a positive linear correlation ($r^2$=9.4) existed between the dissolved oxygen production rate and the $TCO_2$ uptake rate, suggesting that these two factors may serve as good indicators of S. japonica photosynthesis. There was also positive linear relationship between maximal quantum yield ($F_v/F_m$) and production/uptake rates of dissolved oxygen, $TCO_2$ and phosphate, suggested that $F_v/F_m$ could be used as a good indicator of photosynthetic ability and $TCO_2$ consumption of macroalgae. Maximum relative electron transport rate ($rETR_{max}$) of S. japonica increased as thallus grew and was high in distal part of thallus which may be resulted from the increase of photosynthetic cell density per area. The annual $TCO_2$ uptake by S. japonica in Gijang area was estimated about $1.0\sim1.7{\times}10^3C$ ton, which was about 0.02-0.03% of carbon dioxide emission in Busan City. Thus, more research should be focused on macroalgae-based biogeochemical cycles to evaluate the roles and contributions of macroalgae to the global carbon cycle.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.21-26
• /
• 2001

To examine functionality of depolymerized alginate obtained by hydrolysis of alginate through a heating process at $121^{\circ}C$ on gastrointestinal physiology, the changes of body weight, organ weight and length, pancreatic and small intestinal composition, and light microscopy (LM) observation of small intestinal microvilli's appearances were checked in the rats. Rats were fed diets containing $1\%, 5\%, and 10\%$ of each depolymerized alginate (HAG-10, HAG-50, HAG-100) and alginate for 35 days, The feeding of 5 and $10\%$ HAG-50 and $10\%$ alginate diets for 35 days significantly depressed the body weight gain, but increased the length and weight of the small intestine and cecum in rats (p<0.01). Pancreatic protease activity was decreased significantly (p<0.01) in all groups except lo/o of HAG-10 diets, but the protein content increased in all groups, However, pancreatic amylase and lipase activities as well as DNA and RNA content were not significantly different. The small intestinal protein and the DNA content were the highest in diets fed $5\%$ HAG-50; RNA content increased significantly (p<0.01) in all groups except in the fiber-free diets. Light microscopy (LM) observation showed growth of small intestinal microvilli with numerous ridges; the multiplication of the convolution goblet cells in rats fed with diets containing $5\%$ of HAG-50 were more than others group.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.1807-1811
• /
• 2010

In order to evaluate estrogenic compounds in brown algae, an in vitro test system for the verification of estrogenic activity was applied. Fractions from ethanol extracts of each brown alga were prepared by a systematic fractionation procedure with solvents such as $H_2O$, hexane, butanol and methanol. Aqueous fractions of brown algae showed the highest estrogenic activities. Estrogenic activities of $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ aqueous fractions of Undaria pinnatifida and Laminaria japonica showed almost the same strength as that of $10^{-7}\;M$ standard solution ($17{\beta}$-estradiol). Furthermore, estrogenic activities of $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ aqueous fractions of Ecklonia stolonifera and Porphyra suborbiculate represented higher activities than that of $10^{-8}\;M$ $17{\beta}$-estradiol. These observations suggest that aqueous fractions of all these brown algae are expected to possess estrogenic compounds and could be developed as estrogenic agents for postmenopausal disorder.