• ALGAE
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2003

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-216
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• 2019

Platysiphon verticillatus and Punctaria glacialis are synonymized by mainly on the basis of shared genes, nine identical sequences. Our hypothesis is that synonymy is erroneous. We posit the many differences of biological features between the two species, their ecological preferences, and occurrences do not support synonymy. Arcticophycus (nov. gen.) is described and contains the new combination Arcticophycus glacialis. Asexual, vegetative, life histories are proposed. Novel reproductive structures are described including previously unknown features of thallus development in the life history of both species. Discovery of the novel Platysiphon cyst, and dual sporangia types in Arcticophycus, is critical in establishing a probable strategy for survival through the Arctic winter for each annual species. Pl. verticillatus is erect, tubular, ovoid to circular in X sections, flaccid, non-parenchymatous, light brown, 10-15 cm high with distinctive photosynthetic hairs in clusters or whorled on the upper one third of the thallus. A. glacialis is erect, planar, robust, parenchymatous, dark brown and hairs absent. The Halosiphon clade is named, consisting of four genera: Halosiphon, Platysiphon, Arcticophycus, and Stschapovia. Occurrence of these genera is identified. Emended are the genus Platysiphon, the family Platysiphonaceae and the order Stschapoviales.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.555-562
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the effects of Undaria pinnatifida (UP), Petalonia binghamiae (PB) and Punctaria latifolia (PL) extracts on the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis in human gastric and breast cancer cells. AGS, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml concentrations of the extracts to determine their anti-proliferative effects, using the MTT assay. The UP, PB and PL extracts inhibited proliferation of AGS, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the PL extract was found to be the most effective. DAPI staining was also performed to determine changes in the cell nucleus. Further, the AGS, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml of only the PL extract. DAPI staining showed increased chromatin condensation, which is indicative of apoptosis, in the 200 μg/ml group. The expression of the Bax, Bcl-2, and PARP proteins in AGS, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cells treated with the PL extract was also determined by western blot analysis. The expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein) and cleaved-PARP was increased, whereas the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein) was decreased compared with the control. These findings indicate that the PL extract may have potential as an alternative anticancer drug and nutraceutical.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

The brown algal family Chordariaceae sensu lato is a focus of taxonomy because recent studies suggest a broad concept of the family, including genera formerly classified in the Dictyosiphonales. Using morphology, plastid rbcL and nrDNA ITS sequences, we evaluated relationships of the monotyic genus Soranthera (S. ulvoidea), which has been classified in the Punctariaceae. The species occurs in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California. Thalli are globose to lobed, hollow, 3-5 cm in diameter, and covered with evenly distributed sori. However, two forms within the species are recognized: f. ulvoidea for globose forms and f. difformis for lobed forms. Plastid rbcL and nuclear ITS region sequences were newly determined in samples of S. ulvoidea from the Pacific coast of the North America. We found little variations in the ITS sequences among samples of S. ulvoidea from five different locations and in the rbcL region from two different locations. These results do not support previous classification of f. ulvoidea and f. difformis within the species. All analyses of our rbcL sequence dataset show that Soranthera was placed in the Chordariaceae s.l., but more related to Botrytella than Punctaria and Asperococcus.