• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2011

It is selected seven sites for marine algal flora and community structure and investigated seasonally from December 2008 to November 2009 in Gogunsan Islands, the west coast of Korea. A total of 58 species including 10 green, 16 brown and 32 red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 11 species were found throughout the year. Annual mean biomass in dry weight were 213.8 g $m^{-2}$ at Sinsido 1, 143.1 g $m^{-2}$ at Sinsido 2, 133.3 g $m^{-2}$ at Sinsido 3, 164.0 g $m^{-2}$ at Munyeodo, 116.9 g $m^{-2}$ at Seonyudo, and 145.1 g $m^{-2}$ at Jangjado. Maximum biomass was recorded in Sinsido 1, and minimum mean biomass was Sinsido 4. The dominant species based on biomass were Sargassum thunbergii, Ulva pertusa, Sargassum fusiforme and Corallina pilulifera. S. thunbergii was the representative alga occurred at all seasons. The flora investigated could be classified into six functional groups such as coarsely branched form (46.6%), filamentous form (27.6%), sheet form (17.2%), thick leathery form (3.4%), jointed calcareous form (3.4%) and crustose form (1.7%). The R/P, C/P and (R+C)/P value reflecting flora characteristics were 0.33~0.75, 1.11~2.50, 1.47~3.25, respectively. Diversity index (H') and dominance index (DI) indicated that stability of seaweed community of Gogunsan Islands was unstable and environmental conditions were bad. According to multidimensional scaling (MDS) and cluster analysis, Gogunsan Islands were divided into three distinct groups. The first group was Sinsido 2, Sinsido 3, Seonyudo and Muyeodo and the second group comprised Sinsido 1 and Jangjado and the other was Sinsido 4 due to meaningful difference in similarity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1041-1051
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• 2005

In order to assure the safety of the seaweeds, we measured the contents of the trace metals in the seaweeds harvested from Korean coastal area. We collected 620 marine algal samples from fourteen areas, and then analyzed the trace metals such as Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The contents of Hg, Cd, Ni and Mn were higher in the seaweeds collected from Chungnam Taean area. The contents of Cr and Cu were higher in the seaweeds collected from Yeongdeok and Tongyeong area, respectively. And Pb and Zn were highly detected from the seaweeds of Ulsan area. The mean levels of trace metals were high in the order of Zn $(48.02\pm41.20{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Mn (34.63\pm38.95{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Cu(6.29\pm6.52{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Ni(2.17\pm4.00{\mu}g/g)\; >\;Cr(1.61\pm2.35{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Pb(1.28\pm2.37{\mu}g/g)\;>\; Cd(0.67\pm0.75{\mu}g/g)\;>\;Hg(0.02\pm0.02{\mu}g/g)$. Zn was consistently most abundant metal in all samples, followed by Mn and Cu, which are very important for human health. There were higher contents of Hg and Cd in brown algae, the contents of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb in green algae, the content of Zn in red algae among them. Additionally, significant linear correlations were observed between a total 28 different pairs of metals, of them, the correlation factor between Cr and Ni showed the highest (r=0.374, p<0.001). The trace metal contents of seaweeds varied with habitats and kinds of samples, nevertheless they showed very safe level in edible seaweeds tested. Scytosiphon lomentaria, which has been known as a little use of food, have shown a clear selectivity for Cr and Pb. Among non-edible seaweeds, Sargassum thunbergii for both Cd and Mn, Lomentaria hakodatensis for Ni and Grateloupia prolongata for Zn have shown a clear selectivity, respectively. Therefore, these seaweeds could be useful as bioindicator for each trace metal pollution.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2013

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production from marine brown algae, Saccharina japonica, was investigated in anaerobic dark fermentation. In order to evaluate the VFAs productivity, various experimental parameters (i.e., physicochemical pre-treatment, microorganism inoculation ratio, substrate concentration, and pH) were evaluated. According to the physicochemical pre-treatment methods, the maximum concentrations of VFAs were obtained in the order of sulfuric acid, subcritical water and subcritical water with lipid-extraction. Also, we investigated the operating parameters such as microorganism inoculation ratio (MV/M = 10 to 30), the substrate concentration (18.0 to 72.0 g/L) and pH (6.0 to 7.0) in sulfuric acid pre-treatment method. When the substrate concentrations were 18.0, 36.0, 54.0 and 72.0 g/L at $35^{\circ}C$, microorganism inoculation ratio 15, pH 7.0 for 372 hours, the maximum concentrations of VFAs were respectively 9.8, 13.9, 18.6 and 22.3 g/L. The change in VFAs concentrations was detected that acetic- and propionic acids increased according to increasing pH, while the butyric acid increased with decreasing pH. The VFAs obtained from concentration and separation process may be used as basic chemistry materials and bio-fuel, and they will expect to produce alternative energy of fossil fuel.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2015

As an effort to utilize alginate, 103 bacterial isolates that were positive for the alginate lyase activity were isolated from various clams and seawater samples collected in Incheon coastal area. Among them, 3 strains (M1-2-1, M6-1, and C8-15) were finally selected for further analysis based on their activities at higher levels than others. These isolates were all Gram-negative and rod shaped halophilic bacteria with motility. According to their physiological and biochemical properties as well as DNA sequence of their 16S rRNA genes, M1-2-1 and M6-1 were identified as a member of genus Pseudoalteromonas and C8-15 belonged to genus Vibrio. They exhibited the alginate degrading activity at the maximal level when they were cultured in APY broth for 6-8 h at $25^{\circ}C$. Both their growth and the enzyme activity were greatly enhanced when NaCl was added to the growth medium. The crude alginate lyases from the supernatants of the bacterial cultures showed the highest activity at $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0-8.0. M1-2-1 and M6-1 produced 2.723 and 1.976 g/L of reducing sugar from alginate, respectively, suggesting that they have potential for commercial application.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.613-626
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• 2014

Seaweeds were identified after qualitative sampling at 14 stations of Dokdo coasts from May to July 2013 and seaweeds and animals inhabiting 23 Eisenia bicyclis plants were examined to evaluate its ecological role. Biomass was calculated by using regression between stipe length and weight of E. bicyclis. A total of 128 species were identified, including 18 green, 35 brown, and 75 red algae. Coarsely branched form was dominant functional group occupying 47.66% and 91 species (71.09%) were in ESG I group, growing in stable environmental coast. Also, R/P, C/P, and (R+C)/P were 2.14, 0.51, and 2.66, respectively showing temperate and mixed flora. Biomass and density of E.bicyclis were $23.74kg\;m^{-2}$ and 64 fronds $m^{-2}$. Twelve seaweeds and 83 animal species (15 Annelida, 25 Mollusca, 34 Arthropoda, 3 Echinodermata, and 6 others) were observed from 23 holdfasts and Ericthonius pugnax was dominant taxon having 538 (43.11%) of 1,248 animal individuals. These results indicate that E.bicyclis is a keystone species showing very important ecological role. In conclusion, the number of seaweeds increased because of intensive research and dominance of coarsely branched form and ESG I group seaweeds, representing that environmental condition of Dokdo is still intact.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2010

This study was aimed to screen bacteria of high alginate-degrading activity, to select the nitrogen source and concentration of NaCl and sodium alginate for the production of alginate-degrading enzyme, and to determine reaction conditions of enzyme. A novel alginate-degrading bacterium was isolated from abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) and named Methylobacterium sp. HJM27 by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The optimum culture conditions for the production of alginate-degrading enzyme were 1.0% sodium alginate, 0.5% peptone, 0.3% yeast extract, 1.5% NaCl, $25^{\circ}C$ and 48 hours incubation time. The raw enzyme showed the highest activity at $25^{\circ}C$ and pH 9, and produced 1.217 g - reducing sugar per liter in 0.8% (w/v) sodium alginate for 30 minutes. Methylobacterium sp. HJM27 and its alginate-degrading enzyme would be useful for the production of bioenergy and biofunctional oligosaccharides from seaweed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.209-214
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• 2019

Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh is a marine brown algae widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic effects. In this study, we determined the effects of ethanol extract of Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh (EESH) on anti-obesity activities in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results indicated that treatment with EESH decreased the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content observed by oil red O staining. The concentrations of cellular triglycerides were also reduced in 3T3-L1 cells after treatment with EESH. Triglyceride content was inhibited by 13%, 16%, and 23% after treatment with 250, 500, and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of EESH in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that EESH suppressed adipogenic transcription factor expression in a dose dependent manner. Specifically, it suppressed cytidine-cytidine-adinosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT) /enhancer binding proteins $(C/EBP){\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$. This indicated that EESH could control the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and inhibit the differentiation of adipocytes. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that EESH showed anti-obesity effects and could have potential uses in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1851-1858
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• 2010

Estrogen deficiency in peri- and postmenopausal women results in variety of neurovegetative, psychic and somatic symptoms, and may contribute to severe diseases within the aged female population. Ecklonia stolonifera (ES) is an edible brown algae traditionally used in fishery towns in Far East Asia. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ES extracts on blood flow and serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-CON), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 50 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ES extract at 200 mg/kg bw/day (OVX-ES200). Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in the sham group compared to the OVX-CON group. Six weeks feeding of ES extract resulted in a significant (p<0.05) lowering of serum triglyceride and a lowering tendency of total cholesterol level. The level of Hdl-cholesterol in serum increased by supplementation of ES extracts at 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg bw/day (p<0.05). Blood passage time of the ES extracts-supplemented group was higher than the OVX-CON group. The ability of platelet aggregation of groups treated with ES extracts was less than that of the OVX-CON group. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of ES extract may be used to possibly improve on the metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1437-1444
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• 2017

Sargassum macrocarpum is a widely distributed marine brown algae found in the North Pacific. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of an ethanol extract of S. macrocarpum (EESM). First, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of EESM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. EESM treatment suppressed nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and inhibited the expressions of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$), was decreased in a dose dependent manner. Investigation of the signaling pathways of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) revealed suppression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation from the cytosol to nucleus by EESM treatment. The phosphorylation of the Akt and ERK proteins was also inhibited by EESM treatment. EESM treatment also stimulated the expression of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). These results suggest that EESM has anti-inflammatory activity and could have potential uses in the field of nutraceuticals.