• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.13-26
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• 2016

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammatory disorders of the intestines. Due to limitation of conventional treatment including steroids, herbal medicines have emerged as possible therapeutic options for IBD. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic effects and mechanisms of Zostera Marina water extract (ZME) on DSS-induced colitis. Methods: Colitis was induced by DSS in Balb/c mice. In pre-treatment setting, ZME was administered 7 days before DSS treatment and in co-treatment setting, ZME was simultaneously administrated with DSS treatment. In both settings, ZME 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg were orally administered twice a day, respectively. Mice weight and clinical findings were measured daily. Colon length, macroscopic findings and histological damages of colon mucosa were assessed at the end of experiments. The levels of cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 were measured by Biometric Multiplex Cytokine Profiling method. Results: In a dose dependent manner, ZME significantly inhibited the colon shortening, and improved macroscopic score and histological score. However, there were insignificant changes on inhibition of weight loss and improvement of clinical score. There were no significant differences of effects between co-treatment and pre-treatment settings. ZME 300 and 1000 mg/kg groups significantly inhibited IFN-${\gamma}$. Only ZME 1000 mg/kg group significantly inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Conclusions: The current results show the possibility of therapeutic use and its prophylactic application of ZME on inflammatory bowel diseases. Future studies for targeted mechanisms of ZME are needed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.533-542
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• 2011

Numerous seagrass habitat restoration projects have been attempted recently due to the remarkable decline in seagrass coverage. Seagrass transplants tend to adapt to a new environment after experiencing transplanting stress during the early stages of transplantation. Once acclimated, the transplants grow into healthy seagrass beds via vegetative propagation. The establishment and growth dynamics of transplanted seagrasses in bays and coasts are widely reported, but few studies have been conducted on estuaries in Korea. We transplanted Zostera marina in November 2007 and November 2008 in the Nakdong estuary using the staple method, and monitored the survival, adaptation, and growth dynamics of the transplants as well as environmental factors every month for 1 year. Both transplants adapted well to the new environment without initial losses and showed rapid productivity during early summer. However, density of transplants increased 320% in 1 year from the previous year's transplants but that decreased to 59% during the following year. This significant reduction in density in the second year may have been caused by exposure to low salinity (10 psu) for 3 weeks during the unusually long monsoon season. While the survival and growth dynamics of seagrass transplants planted in bays and coasts are mainly controlled by underwater photon flux density and water temperature, salinity was the critical factor for those planted in Nakdong estuary.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2008

Since seagrasses in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems achieve high levels of production, they require high inorganic carbon and nutrient incorporation. Thus, seagrasses may play a significant role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To examine growth dynamics of Zostera marina L. environmental factors such as underwater irradiance, water temperature, and salinity, and biological parameters such as shoot density, biomass, shoot morphology, and leaf productivity were measured in two bay systems (Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay) on the southern coast of Korea. While underwater irradiance did not show distinct seasonal trend, water temperature at both sites exhibited clear seasonal trend throughout the experimental period. Shoot density increased dramatically during winter due to the increased seedlings through germination of seeds in Jindong Bay and due to the increased lateral shoots in Gamak Bay. Eelgrass biomass increased during winter and decreased during summer. Maximum biomass in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay was 250.2 and 232.3 g dry weight m–a2, respectively. Carbon incorporation into the eelgrass leaf tissues was estimated from productivity and leaf tissues carbon content. The calculated annual carbon incorporations at the Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay sites were 163 and 295 g C m–`2 y–`1, respectively. This high carbon incorporation into seagrass tissues suggests that seagrass habitats play an important role as a carbon absorber in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

The Zostera marina ethanolic extract (ZMEE) was tested in this study to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and mouse model. Nitric oxide production and inducible nitiric oxide synthase expression in cells treated with ZMEE was reduced significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ was inhibited markedly. In addition, the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 MAPKs was suppressed by ZMEE as well. In vivo test, ZMEE attenuated the croton oil-induced mouse ear edema and there were no mortalities in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of ZMEE during the observation periods. The results in photomicrograph of mice ear tissue showed the reduction of dermal thickness and the number of infiltrated mast cells. These results indicate that ZMEE inhibits the production of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, suggesting that ZMEE may be a potential material for anti-inflammatory therapies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2004

In order to develop new anti-photoaging agents, we examined the antioxidative activity and the inhibition effect of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) on the extracts of a marine product, Zostera marina L., which is known for its potent activity. Three compounds (compounds 1, 2, and 3) were isolated from an ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction of the product; they were identified as apigenin-7 -O-$\beta$-D-glucoside (1), chrysoeriol (2), and luteolin (3). These compounds were found to scavenge radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and were measured to have $SC_{50}$/ values of 0.18 mM, 0.68 mM, and 0.01 mM against the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 0.04 mM, 0.03 mM, and 0.01 mM against the superoxide radical in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, respectively. Compound 3 suppressed the expression of MMP-1 by up to 44％ at 4.0 $\mu$M and inhibited the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is known as a cytokine that induces MMP-1 expression. From these results, compound 3 and the other compounds were determined to have antioxidative activity and to inhibit MMP-1 expression. Thus, the three compounds are expected to be useful for preventing the photoaging of skin.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.535-544
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• 1998

Seasonal variation of the crab community in the eelgrass (Zostera marina) bed in Kwangyang Bay was studied based on the monthly collections through a year of 1994. The crab community in the eelgrass bed was composed of 21 species representing 12 families. The community was dominated by Charybdis Japonica, Telmessus acutidens, Hemigrapsus penicillatus, and Pugettia quadridens. Crabs collected in the study area were primarily small-sized species or early juveniles of large crab species. Most individuals had carapace width smaller than 25 mm except C. japonica and T. acutidens which had maximum carapace width over 85 mm. More than 5 species were collected every month except January and February (4 and 3 species, respectively). The peak abundance occurred in August and low abundances in autumn and winter. Species diversity indices showed that more diverse crabs were collected In spring and summer, and lesser ones in autumn and winter. The crabs in the study area can be grouped into three groups on the basis of their occurrence patterns: resident species, seasonal species, and temporary species. More abundant and more diverse crabs were collected during nighttime than daytime.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2005

This study described the phonology and reproductive potential of four species of Korean seagrasses, Zostera caespitosa, Z. caulescem, Z. Japonica and Z. marina. Z. caespitosa and Z. caulescens sampled from a mixed stand at the subtidal area of Yulpo Bay, Geojedo of the South Sea of Korea in November 2002 and August 2003. Z japonica and Z. marina occurred at the depth between the middle intertidal and shallow subtidal (<1m below mean sea level) of Seungbongdo (in Yellow Sea) samples collected in February and October 2003. The sexual reproductive phase of the four Zostera species was apparently different in timing of flowering, reproductive period, fruiting and seed maturing. Z. caespitosa flowered from February to early May $(10-16^{\circ}C)$, and its seed production completed in early May. The reproductive shoots of Z. caulescens began to appear in January $(9^{\circ}C)$, and its flowering followed from February to June $(10-19^{\circ}C)$. The flowers of Z. japonica were observed from July to September $(18-22^{\circ}C)$, and its seeds matured from August to September. The most commonly I marina flowered from April to August $(7-21^{\circ}C)$ and developed into seeds in July. Z. caulescens, the largest plant, had the highest number of seeds per shoot and longest spadix length. Z. marina, which was intermediate In size, recorded the highest reproductive potential. The study indicates that the reproductive phase and potential of the four species of seagrass from Korea are highly related to water temperature, and the populations of these species show a perennial lifespan with a low sexual reproductive input.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.106-116
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• 2020

To examine distribution of the Zostera species growing naturally in Ulleungdo, scuba diving surveys using ships were conducted along the coast and inside the harbors of the island at the end of September 2019. In areas of seagrass occurrence, environmental factors such as nutrient concentrations in water column and sediment pore water, salinity, and sediment organic content were also analyzed. Zostera caulescens meadows appeared in the relatively deep waters (14-24 m MSL) of Cheonbu-ri, Jeodong-ri, Sadong-ri, and Namyang-ri in Ulleungdo, and the total seagrass coverage was approximately 4.9 ha. Approximately 0.9 ha of Zostera marina meadow was found at the depths of 3-5 m MSL within Hyeonpo-hang in Hyeonpo-ri. The average shoot density and biomass of Z. caulescens were 121.9±9.7 shoot m^-2 and 99.0±13.2 gDW m^-2, respectively, with no significant differences by location. The average shoot density and biomass of Z. marina were 193.8±18.8 shoot m^-2 and 102.6±6.8 gDW m^-2, respectively. The nutrient concentrations in the sediment pore water and sediment organic content in the seagrass meadows in Ulleungdo were lower than those in eelgrass meadows on the southern and eastern coasts of Korea. These results will provide useful basic information for the marine protected species, Z. caulescens and Z. marina, and for the conservation of the waters of Ulleungdo, which has been designated as a marine protected area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.184-191
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• 2010

Epiphytic diatoms are very important organisms in the seagrass ecosystem because their colonization on leaves increases microtopography and provides attachment sites that make the leaves more hospitable for other epiphytes. Epiphytic diatoms were attached to the leaves in the following 3 manners: (1) parallel to the cells of the seagrass leaf or by molding the shape of the diatom along the cell shape of the leaf; (2) with increasing diatom density toward the leaf tip; (3) Cocconeis species as attaching species than the Naviculoid species as the second attaching species on the leaf tip. In addition, the epiphytic diatom communities on Zostera marina leaves differed from those on the Zostera japonica leaves, but were very similar to the epiphytic communities on Zostera caespitosa leaves. Our results suggest that the epiphytic community on seagrass leaves varied according to the leaf shape such as leaf length and width, but the leaf cell shape or size did not influence the dynamics of the diatom communities.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2010

A variety of Cyclotella atomus were discovered among the epiphytic diatoms on eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Korean waters. Cyclotella atomus var. marina has a flat and disc-shaped valve, and is clearly differentiated into a striate marginal zone and a smooth central zone. The valves have a very small diameter ranging from 3.1-3.4 ${\mu}m$. This small diatom does not have any central ornamentation. The marginal striate zone has numerous granules toward the mantle. The valves have five or six marginal fultoportulae with two satellite pores and a single marginal rimoportula.