• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.199-203
• /
• 2006

Background: Eckol purified from Ecklonia cava, a brown alga has been known to have cytoprotective effects on some cell lines against oxidants and ionizing radiation. However, there is no study about the effects of eckol on immune cells. Methods: Bone marrow (BM)-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used to demonstrate the immunomodulatory effects of eckol on DCs, such as viability, the expression of surface markers, allogeneic stimulating capacity using MTI, flow cytometric, $^3H$-thymidine incorporation assay. Results: Eckol did protect DCs against cytokine withdrawal-induced apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner based on MTT assay. And also, it increased the expression of MHC class II and CD86 (B7.2) molecules, maturation markers, on the surface of viable DCs gated in FACS analysis. Furthermore, eckol-treated DCs stimulated the proliferation of allogeneic $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes compared to imDCs in $^3H$-thymidine incorporation assay. $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes activated with eckol-treated DCs produced the larger amount of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 than those cells with imDCs. Conclusion: Taken together, we demonstrate in this study that eckol, a pure compound of Ecklonia cava, may modulate the immune responses through the phenotypic and functional changes of DCs.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.337-347
• /
• 2017

Silvetia siliquosa is an ecologically and commercially important brown alga that is harvested from its natural habitats, but its population has recently been diminishing along the Korean coast. To develop new techniques for algal population restoration, we tested two newly developed transplantation methods (using polyethylene ropes and natural rock pieces) at two study sites, Gwanmaedo and Yeongsando, on the southwest coast of Korea, from May to November 2014. The transplants on polyethylene ropes showed significantly greater survival, maturity, and growth than those on natural rocks at both study sites. Newly recruited juveniles (<3 cm) of S. siliquosa increased remarkably from May to December near the transplants on polyethylene ropes and natural rocks.Therefore, we suggest that transplantation using polyethylene ropes is more effective than using natural rocks to restore the population of S. siliquosa in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.200-205
• /
• 2006

Ecklonia cava is brown alga which ow in the sea all over the world. It has been shown that Ecklonia cava has antioxidative, anticoagulant, and antiviral effect, lately. In this study, we examined the antihypertensiye effect of Ecklonia cava extract (Eca) on 2-kidney 1-clip Goldblatt Hypertensive Rats (GB-HT). In vitro assay, the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity was significantly inhibited by Eca (27-95% inhibition at $10-50\;{\mu}g/ml$). The systolic blood pressure of Eca-treated GH-HT significantly was decreased compared to that of control CB-HT (15% decrease at 50 mg/kg). The serum ACE activity was also inhibited 19% with 50 mg/kg Eca treatment. These results suggest that Eca can be used as antihypertensive functional foods and nutraceuticals.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2012

Gambierdiscus toxicus, Adachi et. Fukuyo, is a benthic ciguatoxin-producing armored dinoflagellate, often attached to macroalgae. This organism is the primary causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning which occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. However, regardless of the fact that the population of Gambierdiscus spp. has expanded to such temperate areas from sub-trophic and trophic areas, monitoring of G. toxicus has been lacking in the Korean coastal waters of temperate areas. This study was performed at the uninhabited Baekdo Islands off the southern coast of Korea and at Seopsom Island in the vicinity of Seogwipo, Jeju Province during April and May, 2011. Cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. on macroalgae at Baekdo and Jeju Island ranged from zero to 56.4 cells $g^{-1}$. Maximum density was recorded on the brown alga Cladophora japonica at St. 3 of Jeju Island. In particular, the cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. were influenced by the substrate characteristics of macroalgae. In the future, the continuous monitoring of toxic benthic dinoflagellate is necessary to predict and prevent ciguatera poisoning in Korean coastal waters.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.279-285
• /
• 2015

In this study, the potential capacity of the crude extract and its solvent fractions from S. siliquanstrum against adipocyte differentiation were evaluated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The anti-adipogenic effect of S. siliquanstrum was evidenced by the fact that its crude extract decreases the lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and the expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$. All solvent fractions except the water fraction showed an observable decrease in lipid accumulation and $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expressions. In conclusion, these results suggest that S. siliquanstrum possesses obesity inhibiting components, which may possibly be used as a valuable anti-obesity agent for reducing the risk of obesity.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.251-256
• /
• 2011

We screened for antibacterial substances against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methanolic extract of Eisenia bicyclis exhibited anti-MRSA activity according to a disk diffusion assay. To identify the active compound(s), the methanolic extract was further fractionated using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction showed both the greatest anti-MRSA activity and the highest polyphenol content. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the ethyl acetate fraction ranged from 32 to 64 ${\mu}g$ per mL against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and MRSA strains. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that both the methanolic extract and the ethyl acetate soluble fraction contained sizeable quantities of dieckol, which is a known anti-MRSA compound. Thus, these data strongly suggest that the anti-MRSA activity of E. bicyclis may be mediated by phlorotannins such as dieckol.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.687-692
• /
• 2010

The mass cultivation of Ecklonia cava Kjellman was studied as a potential biomass source for the extract industry in Korea. Experiments were conducted to investigate the optimal conditions for artificial seed production and mass cultivation of this species. Maximum growth and young thalli development in the nursery culture area occurred at 2 m depth, whereas maximum growth of thalli in the main culture area occurred at 1 m depth. Production of E. cava was between 2.6 and 3.6 kg wet wt. $m^{-1}$ after depth control and removal of fouling organism, etc. The relationship between optimal water depth for culture and underwater irradiance during the E. cava cultivation was calculated as: y = -0.718x + 8.042 ($r^2$=0.976). The growth rates achieved in this trial indicate that E. cava cultures could produce and supply sufficient biomass.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.614-620
• /
• 2005

The antioxidative effect of Ecklonia cava, a brown marine alga, was investigated on radical scavenging, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and hydroxyl and alkyl radicals, using an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, and on the inhibition of $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage using comet assay. E. cava was enzymatically hydrolyzed with five food industrial proteases (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Kojizyme, Neutrase and Protamex) to prepare water-soluble extracts. All the proteolytic hydrolysates exhibited strong dose-dependent radical scavenging activities (above 80%) at a concentration of $2.5\;{\mu}g/mL$. Kojizyme extract (obtained by proteolytic hydrolysation of E. cava with Kojizyme) showed the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of around 98%. In addition, the $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage was determined using a comet assay, which was quantified by measuring the tail length. Reduction of DNA damage increased with increasing concentrations of Kojizyme extract from E. cava. These results indicated that E. cava has a potential as a valuable natural antioxidative source.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.212-216
• /
• 2004

Peroxynitrite formation in vivo is implicated in numerous human diseases and there is considerable interest in the use of antioxidants and natural products for their treatment. The three components (1-3) isolated from Sargassum thunbergii as well as the organic solvent-soluble fractions and the aqueous layer of S. thunbergii were evaluated for their potential to scavenge authentic ONOO$\^$-/ and ONOO$\^$-/ derived from 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1). The antioxidant activity of the individual fractions was in the order of 85% aqueous (aq.) MeOH＞n$\^$-/ BuOH＞n-hexane＞H$_2$O. The three known compounds, sargahydroquinoic acid (1), sargaquinoic acid (2) and sargachromenol (3) showed peroxynitrite-scavenging activities comparable to those of L-ascorbic acid and penicillamine. These results showed a possible antioxidant activity in major constituents of S. thunbergii.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.149-164
• /
• 1985

Intertidal algal community of Muchangpo in western coast of Korea was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Seasonal changes of algal occurrence, dominant species in cover, vertical zonation pattern and biomass were analysed. A total of sixty-four species of marine algae, one blue-green alga, three green algae, nineteen brown algae and forty-one red algae, were identified. The dominant species in cover were Sargassum thunbergii, Gelidium divaricatum and Pelvetia siliquosa throughout the year. Gloiopeltis furcata was abundant at upper and middle littoral zones and Corallina pilulifera at lower littoral zone. Classification by unweighted pair-group average method and ordination by reciprocal averaging based on the cover data indicated that, on the whole, the intertidal algal vegetation showed different patterns along tidal levels. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 57.2~92.8 g-dry/$m^2$, and the highest in summer and the lowest in spring season. Seasonal change of community structure was also discussed.