• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.374-384
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• 1999

Benthic marine algal flora and community structure of Yongho-dong area in Pusan, Korea were investigated seasonally in intertidal and subtidal zones by a quadrat method along 5 transect lines from July 1996 to April 1997. In this area, a total of 99 species including 3 blue-green, 13 green, 26 brown and 57 red algae was found. Among them, 33 taxa, together with dominant Ulva pertusa and Corallina pilulifera, occurred throughout the year. Enteromorpha spp. and Ulva spp. vertically distributed in upper and middle zone, while Simphyocladia latiuscula, Chondria crassicaulis, Corallina pilulifera and Sargassum sup. in lower zones. Biomass per unit area exhibited a wide range of variation, from 1,241 g/$m^2$(spring) to 1,648 g/$m^2$(summer) in fresh weight. Maximum and minimum species diversity were recorded in spring and autumn, respectively. Results of the UPGAM cluster analysis suggest that the examined 5 sites can be divided into two groups, sites exposed to open sea (transects 1, 2, 3) and comparatively sheltered sites (transects 4, 5) faced with the Pusan Harbor. The former group is represented by large brown algae, Sargassum and Hizikia, while Ulva pertusa and Lomentaria species are mainly found in the latter group. A calcareous alga, Corallina pilulifera occurred dominantly in both groups throughout the year. In conclusion, number of species in this area was remarkably reduced as compared to the previous data. This result may suggest probably more change of algal vegetation in future, considering the physical and chemical pollutions loaded in the coastal marine environment of this area.

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

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2011

Several compounds and extracts isolated from a brown alga, Ishige (I.) okamurae, exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of I. okamurae (EFIO) could ameliorate carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_{4}$)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with EFIO at 10 or 50 mg/kg per day for 2 consecutive days before $CCl_{4}$ injection (3.3 mL/kg, i.p.). Twenty four hours later, the rats were anesthesized with diethyl ether and dissected. Pretreatment with EFIO significantly reduced the increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in $CCl_{4}$-treated rats. Pretreatment with EFIO also significantly inhibited the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the $CCl_{4}$-injured liver. Histopathological evaluations showed that hemorrhage, hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fatty degeneration induced by $CCl_{4}$ treatment were ameliorated by the administration of EFIO. Additionally, liver immunohistochemical analyses revealed the marked reduction in ED1-positive monocyte-like macrophages in EFIO-pretreated rats given $CCl_{4}$. These results suggest that EFIO ameliorates $CCl_{4}$-induced liver injury, possibly through the inhibition of oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2015

Inflammation is a protective response to infection or injury. However, prolonged inflammation can contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have shown that activated macrophages, inflammatory effector cells, can react to tissue insults in a polarized manner, in which their phenotypes are polarized into two major subtypes, categorized as M1 or M2. Classical M1 activation involves the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and free radicals, while M2 or alternative activation is an anti-inflammatory phenotype involved in homeostatic processes, such as wound healing, debris scavenging, and the dampening of inflammation via the production of very low levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and high levels of anti-inflammatory mediators, including IL-10. As part of our ongoing effort to isolate anti-inflammatory compounds from seaweeds, we investigated the effects of phlorotannins isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia stolonifera on macrophage polarization. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were treated with various concentrations of the extracts, and real-time RT-PCR analyses were performed to examine the expression of polarization markers: IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ for M1 and arginase-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-${\gamma}$, found inflammatory zone-1 (Fizz-1), chitinase 3-like 3 (Ym1), and$Kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like factor 4 (Klf-4) for M2. The pretreatment of cells with eckol, dieckol, and phlorofucofuroeckol-A (PFF-A), isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. stolonifera ethanolic extract, potentiated the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype of the macrophages. These results indicate that phlorotannins derived from E. stolonifera can be used to enrich macrophages with markers of the M2 anti-inflammatory state.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 2017

The conversion of marine biomass to renewable energy has been considered an alternative to fossil fuels. Butanol, in particular, can be used directly as a fuel. In this experiment, the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida was selected as a biomass for biobutanol production. Hyper thermal (HT) acid hydrolysis was used as an acid hydrolysis method to produce monosaccharides. The optimal pretreatment conditions for U. pinnatifida were determined as slurry with 10% (w/v) U. pinnatifida content and 270 mM $H_2SO_4$, and heating at $160^{\circ}C$ for 7.5 min. Enzymatic saccharification was carried out with Celluclast 1.5 L, Viscozyme L, and Ultraflo Max. The optimal saccharification condition was 12 U/ml Viscozyme L. Fermentations were carried out for the production of acetone, butanol, and ethanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum KCTC 1724, Clostridium beijerinckii KCTC 1785, and Clostridium tyrobutyricum KCTC 5387. The fermentations were carried out using a pH-control. The optimal ABE fermentation condition determined using C. acetobutylicum KCTC 1724 adapted to 160 g/l mannitol. An ABE concentration of 9.05 g/l (0.99 g/l acetone, 5.62 g/l butanol, 2.44 g/l ethanol) was obtained by the consumption of 24.14 g/l monosaccharide with $Y_{ABE}$ of 0.37 in pH 5.0.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.607-618
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• 2013

Marine macroalgal community structures and characteristics of ocean environmental factors were examined seasonally at four sites in Jeju Island, Korea, from March to November 2012. A total of 71 macroalgal species were identified, including 9 green, 7 brown, and 55 red algae. Peyssonnelia capensis occurred at all study sites and in all seasons. The average annual biomass of seaweed was 991.84 g wet $wt/m^2$, with seasonal variations from 543.80 g in autumn to 1,284.17 $g/m^2$ in summer. A green alga, Codium coactum, was the dominant species, occupying 21.31% (211.39 $g/m^2$) of the total algal biomass in Jeju Island. Subdominant species were Ecklonia cava and Lithophyllum okamurae, comprising 20.85% (206.75 $g/m^2$) and 19.64% (194.75 $g/m^2$), respectively, of the total algal biomass in Jeju Island. The vertical distribution of subtidal seaweeds was represented by L. okamurae at 5 m depth, C. coactum at 10 m depth, E. cava at 5-10 m depth and P. capensis at the 20 m depth level. In the present study, crustose coralline algae, which predominated on barren ground, were subdominant species at all study sites. Community indices varied between 0.51-0.63 for dominance index (DI), 5.53-8.14 for richness index (R), 0.51-0.63 for evenness index (J'), and 2.04-2.32 for diversity index (H'). On the basis of seaweed biomass and community indices, Sinchang was the best preserved coastal area, showing maximal values in biomass, and evenness- and diversity-indices, and minimal value in the dominance index, representing stable environmental conditions. In contrast, the Onpyung and Topyeong sites, located near tourist venues such as Udo and Seogwipo were relatively poor habitats based on community indices and biomass. The present results could imply that climate changes alter seaweed community structure, and long-term monitoring of the study sites is required.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.195-205
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• 2011

Objectives : Ecklonia cava is brown alga(Laminariaceae) which grows is sea, it has antioxidant, diarrhea and anticoagulant effect. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Ecklonia cava (EC) on peptidoglycan(PGN) -induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. Methods : In the present study, IL-6 production was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), prostaglandin $\E_2$($\PGE_2$) production was measured using the EIA kit, and inducible NO synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) activation, as determined by western blot analysis and reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : EC inhibited PGN-induced NO and IL-6 production. Consistent with these observations, the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by EC. Moreover, EC suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) 1/2 in PGN-induced RAW 264.7. Conclusions : These results suggest that EC has inhibitory effects on PGN-induced $\PGE_2$, NO, and IL-6 production, as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the murine macrophage. These inhibitory effects occur through blockades on the MAPKs phosphorylation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1170-1178
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• 2018

The anti-inflammatory effect of brown alga Ecklonia cava is well known, and several phlorotannins have also been reported. In this study, major active components for anti-allergy and anti-inflammation were identified by NMR and MS analysis, and the levels of effectiveness were compared. Six major phlorotannins-phloroglucinol, eckol, eckstolonol, triphlorethol-A, phlorofucofuroeckol A, and dieckol-were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of E. cava. In order to analyze the major active substances in E. cava, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects were evaluated for the six separate substances. Antioxidant capacities of each phlorotannin were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, where phlorofucofuroeckol A and triphlorethol-A had the highest radical scavenging capacity in respective radical scavenging assays. Phlorofucofuroeckol A exhibited the highest inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells among phlorotannins tested. Dieckol inhibited the release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, a marker for the release of histamine in mast cells, in a dose-dependent manner in antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Additionally, no cytotoxicities were observed at 1 and $2{\mu}g/ml$ in both phlorofucofuroeckol A and dieckol. These results suggest that phlorofucofuroeckol A and dieckol may play a key role in allergic inflammatory reactions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2015

Excessive microglial activation and subsequent neuroinflammation lead to synaptic loss and dysfunction as well as neuronal cell death, which are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the regulation of microglial activation has been evaluated as effective therapeutic strategies. Although dieckol (DEK), one of the phlorotannins isolated from marine brown alga Ecklonia cava, has been previously reported to inhibit microglial activation, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated here molecular mechanism of DEK via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Akt and nicotinamide adenine dinuclelotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-mediated pathways. In addition, the neuroprotective mechanism of DEK was investigated in microglia-mediated neurotoxicity models such as neuron-microglia co-culture and microglial conditioned media system. Our results demonstrated that treatment of anti-oxidant DEK potently suppressed phosphorylation of ERK in lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $1{\mu}g/ml$)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. In addition, DEK markedly attenuated Akt phosphorylation and increased expression of $gp91^{phox}$, which is the catalytic component of NADPH oxidase complex responsible for microglial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Finally, DEK significantly attenuated neuronal cell death that is induced by treatment of microglial conditioned media containing neurotoxic secretary molecules. These neuroprotective effects of DEK were also confirmed in a neuron-microglia co-culture system using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transfected B35 neuroblastoma cell line. Taken together, these results suggest that DEK suppresses excessive microglial activation and microglia-mediated neuronal cell death via downregulation of ERK, Akt and NADPH oxidase-mediated pathways.