• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.594-598
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and frequency of food-borne pathogens in unprocessed Products such as grains, tubers, vegetables, and seaweeds. Three hundred and twenty seven samples were purchased from the retail market and the supermarket in the Kyonggi-do and Seoul areas, and washed with running tap water for 4 minutes. The total aerobic bacteria count was approximately 2 to 6 log CFU/g and the highest counts were 6 log CFU/g far lettuce and sesame leaf. The coliform count showed 1-5 log CFU/g and the highest counts were 4 log CFU/g for lettuce and carrot. Escherichia coli was detected in seven samples of white rice, sweet potato, lettuce, sesame leaf, and cabbage. Clostridium perfringens was detected in six samples of brown seaweed, laver, lettuce, and sweet potato. However, Bacillus cereus contamination was found in more than 30% of brown rice, carrot, sweet potato, lettuce and sesame leaf samples, and some of these showed contamination of more than 2.0 log CFU/g. Therefore, these results suggest that pretreatment with sanitizer to remove Bacillus cereus in such products is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.595-603
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• 2017

The macroalgal community structure was examined at the subtidal zones of six study sites, on the Southern coast of Korea from between May and August 2015. A total of 132 seaweeds, comprising 10 green, 28 brown and 94 red Seaweed, were identified. The seaweed biomass was $80.32g\;dry\;wt.\;m^{-2}$ in average, and it was maximal at Geomundo ($166.94g\;dry\;wt.\;m^{-2}$) and minimal at Byeongpungdo ($14.52g\;dry\;wt.\;m^{-2}$). On the basis of the biomass, the Ecklonia cava was a representative species, distributed widely in the subtidal zone of the three islands (Yeoseodo, Geomundo, Baekdo). Also, the Sargassum sp. was dominant at Sejondo and Hongdo. The turbidity and light transmittance was divided into two groups. The seaweed community structure of group A (Byeongpungdo, Sejondo, Geomundo) was characterized by high turbidity, low light transmittance and a lower habitat depth than were observed in group B (Hongdo, Baekdo, Yeoseodo). As the water depth increased, the biomass decreased due to the lowered light transmittance. In Byeongpungdo and Sejondo, which showed high turbidity and low light transmittance, the degree of seaweed coverage was decreased with the depth of water. The ESGII ratio of the Ecological Status Group was higher than fourty percentage in Byeongpungdo and Baekdo. Community indices were as follows: dominance index (DI) 0.35-0.90, richness index (R) 7.03-17.93, evenness index (J′) 0.22-0.60, and diversity index (H′) 0.79-2.18. The Macroalgal zonation of the subtidal zone was calculated by the Ecklonia cava and Brown algal population on five islands(Byeongpungdo, Yeoseodo, Geomundo, Beakdo, Hongdo). On the other hand, Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum sp. dominated at Sejondo. Additionally, the biomass ratio and the species richness of green algae was lower in group A. These differences in the seaweed community structure may have resulted from the effects of turbidity and light transmittance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1120-1125
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• 2019

The short-lived nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used as a model organism for many studies, including lifespan extension. To screen common seaweeds for natural anti-aging agents, the lifespan of C. elegans (N2 wild-type strain) was measured by its hatch rate, growth rate, survival rate, chemotaxis, brood size, and egg-laying time after exposure to nematode growth medium (NGM) containing seaweed extracts. Approximately 30 animals synchronized at the first larval stage were incubated until they reached their adult stages before laying their eggs and were transferred to fresh NGM every 3 days. We also identified the major active compound from the seaweed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and tested its optimal dose for longevity. Of 13 common seaweed species, an ethanol extract of the brown seaweed Hizikia fusiformis showed the greatest effect on hatching, growth, and survival rates. The lifespan of C. elegans was significantly expanded 1.54-fold and 1.23-fold in the presence of the ethanol extract (0.05 mg/ml) and the main active component, fucosterol (0.05 mg/ml), respectively. Exposure to the ethanol extract also increased chemotaxis 1.13-fold, decreased brood size 0.74-fold, and shortened egg-laying time 0.96-fold. These results suggest that the aquaculturable H. fusiformis may be a promising source of a diet supplement to support health care.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2007

This study was carried out to estimate the contents of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, and Cd) in seaweeds (n=169) which are closely related to food resources. The contents of heavy metals in the laver were found as follows; Hg was highly detected in the east coastal area ($0.0509{\pm}0.0635mg/kg$), Pb in the south coastal area ($0.0509{\pm}0.0635mg/kg$), Cd in the south coastal area ($1.3785{\pm}0.7754mg/kg$). In the sea mustard, Hg was highly detected in the south coastal area ($0.0152{\pm}0.0116mg/kg$), Pb in the east coastal area ($0.1633{\pm}0.2888mg/kg$), Cd in the south coastal area ($0.7141{\pm}0.4952mg/kg$). In the sea tangle, Hg was highly detected in the south coastal area ($0.0177{\pm}0.0118mg/kg$), Pb in the east coastal area ($0.0728{\pm}0.1025mg/kg$), Cd in the south coastal area ($0.1640{\pm}0.1253mg/kg$). In the sea lettuce, Hg, Pb, and Cd were highly detected from the west coastal area. In the fusiforme, Hg and Cd were highly in the west coastal area, Pb in the south coastal area. In general brown algae showed the highest level of Hg, Pb, and green algae showed the highest level of Cd Additionally, the significant correlation was observed between Hg and Cd (r=0.513, p<0.01), between Cd and Pb (r=0.420, p<0.05). The weekly average intakes of Hg, Pb and Cd from seaweeds takes about 0.17~10.30 % of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) that FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee has set to evaluate their safeties.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2012

Seaweeds provide habitats in which marine animals can spawn and develop, and serve as a food supply for algaegrazing species such as sea urchins and abalone. Recently, seaweed species have disappeared from coastal ecosystems, leaving barren ground, defined as habitats that have lost their algae forests and where coralline algae containing calcium carbonate components have become encrusted on rocks. The biological causes of barren ground include grazing by herbivores and excessive seaweed harvest. The environmental harm caused by the spread of barren ground includes accelerated eutrophication following the reduction in seaweed, which plays an important role in oceanic purification. In the present study, we identified the relationships between various seaweed species and the occurrence of barren ground. Subtidal benthic macroalgal flora and community structure were observed seasonally on barren ground along vertical transects of rocky shores of Bihwa, Samchuck, and the east coast of Korea from February to November 2006. Fifty-eight seaweed species were identified, including 7 green, 15 brown, and 36 red algae species. There were between 6 and 28 species among seasons. Over the whole study period, average seaweed biomass (g wet wt $m^{-2}$) was 241.90 g, with a seasonal range of 25.26 to 760.34 g. Seaweed biomass declined with increasing seawater depth and ranged between 91.26 and 422.08 g. The vertical distribution of algae was characterized by Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum honeri at 5 m, S. honeri and U. pinnatifida at 10 m, and U. pinnatifida and Agarum clathratum at 15 m depth. Seasonal patterns in community indices were not found. Community indices showed different patterns along vertical shoreline gradients; the dominance index increased but the richness, evenness, and diversity indices decreased with seawater depth. Sea urchin density was 8 to 24 individ. $m^{-2}$ in Bihwa. These urchin populations had significantly aggregated spatial patterns and recurrent destructive grazing appeared to be occurring.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.833-843
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of hygiene education on the microbiological changes of processing utensils and the environmental in the manufacture of cereals and to evaluate the Cd, Pb contents and nutrient compositions of 11 cereals. The result of microbiological evaluation was that fungi, coliforms and staphylococcus species were detected in employees, on equipment, utensils and environments in the first inspection. Fungi were detected in most of the cereals, staphylococcus species were detected in soybeans, perilla seeds and sea tangle How, and bacillus cereus was detected in sorghum and black sesame seeds. The water content of rice, barley, glutinous rice, brown rice and carrot flour in packaged products, and in carrot flour, angelica keiskei, carrot, sea mustard and potato in bulk products was in excess of 8.0%. The Pb content of cereals was 0.14-0.51 mg/kg and Cd was not found. The acid value of Job s tears flour and black sesame seed flour was higher than 5.0 mg/g oil. Cereals were manufactured from 41 different cereals and grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, vegetables, potatoes, seaweeds, fruits, glucose and salt. The average content of cereals and grains, legumes, and seeds and nuts in cereals was 75.75%, 16.19% and 4.93%, respectively. The mean nutrient content per 100 g of cereals was calories 365.8kcal, protein 13.3 g, fats 5.9 g, carbohydrates 63.4 g, Ca 91.8 mg, p 269.9 mg, Fe 3.15 mg, Na 76.2 g, K 421.8 mg, Zn 2.33 mg, Vit. A 12.5 R.E., Vit. B$_1$0.23 mg, Vit. $B_2$ 0.16 mg, Vit. $B_6$ 0.46 mg, Niacin 3.5 mg, Vit. C 1.36 mg, folic acid 62.3 $\mu$g and Vit. E 1.24 mg. When nutrients value of 48 g of cereals and 200 $m\ell$l of milk was compared to 1/3 of the RDA, the values were below than 60% of 1/3 of the RDA except Na, K, Vitamin $B_1$ and C contents. The average carbohydrate : protein : fat ratio of energy intake was 54.27 : 17.45 : 28.28, respectively. Therefore, a training program consisting of the education of the staff in surveillance and standard operating procedures, the elimination of dangerous procedures, sanitation checklist, the implementation of Preparation methods and standard recipes for cereals is required.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2015

Alginates are found in marine brown seaweeds and in extracellular biofilms secreted by some bacteria. Previously, we reported an oligoalginate lyase from Sphingomonas sp. MJ-3 (MJ3-Oal) that had an exolytic activity and protein sequence homology with endolytic polymannuronate (polyM) lyase in the N-terminal region. In this study, the MJ3-Oal was tested for both exolytic and endolytic activity by homology modeling using the crystal structure of Alg17c from Saccharophagus degradans 2-40T. The tyrosine residue at the $426^{th}$ position, which possibly formed a hydrogen bond with the substrate, was mutated to phenylalanine. The FPLC profiles showed that MJ3-Oal degraded alginate quickly to monomers as a final product through the oligmers, whereas the Tyr426Phe mutant showed only exolytic alginate lyase activity. $^1H$-NMR spectra also showed that MJ3-Oal degraded the endoglycosidic bond of polyM and polyMG (polymannuronate-guluronate) blocks. These results indicate that oligoalginate lyase from Sphingomonas sp. MJ-3 probably catalyzes the degradation of both exo- and endo-glycosidic bonds of alginate.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 1991

To isolate new antioxidants from twelve edible seaweeds, mixed methanol and chloroform extract of marine algae was fractionated into several subfractions and their antioxidant activities were measured by using AOM and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Especially the aqueous-methanol soluble fractions of brown and red algae showed a considerable antioxidant effect. Their antioxidant activities were stronger than synthetic antioxidants such as BHA, BHT, under the same concentration. Further fractionation of the aqueous-methanol soluble fractions using silica gel column chromatography yielded five subfractions. Among them methanol fraction exhibited high DPPH quenching activities. Also, it was confirmed to be benzene-derivative substances of two compounds by UV, HPLC, GC/MS analysis. Its each molecular weight was about 181, 238. These results suggested the existence of two effective natural antioxidant compounds in three edible marine algae.