• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2012

Gelidium (G.) elegans is a red alga inhabiting intertidal areas of North East Asia. We examined anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of G. elegans, depending on drying and extraction conditions, by determining reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in 3T3-L1 and RAW 264.7 cells. Extraction yields of samples using hot air drying (HD) and far-infrared ray drying (FID) were significantly higher than those using natural air drying (ND). The 70% ethanol extracts showed the highest total phenol and flavonoid contents compared to other extracts (0, 30, and 50% ethanol) under tested drying conditions. The scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitrite correlated with total phenol or flavonoid content in the extracts. The greatest DPPH scavenging effect was observed in 70% ethanol extract from FID and HD conditions. The production of ROS and NO in 3T3-L1 and macrophage cells greatly decreased with the 70% ethanol extraction derived from FID. This study suggests that 70% ethanol extraction of G. elegans dried by FID is the most optimal condition to obtain efficiently antioxidant compounds of G. elegans.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.390-396
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• 2020

We investigated the anti-obesity effect of Gelidium elegans extract (GE) on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse model. The results of the present study demonstrated that GE prevents weight gain induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) by modulating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-PR domain-containing 16 (PRDM16)-uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) pathway in a mice model. Moreover, in vitro results show that GE suppressed adipocyte differentiation by modulating adipogenic regulators, stimulated lipolysis by activating ATGL, and inhibited adipogenesis by downregulating various enzymes associated with triglyceride synthesis. GE was also found to upregulate AMPK phosphorylation as well as the expression of UCP1 and PRDM16 proteins, leading to measurable changes in the beige-like phenotype differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest the role of GE as a functional food ingredient extracted from Gelidium elegans to increase energy expenditure and anti-obesity efficacy.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2019

This study was carried out to observe the changes of seaweed community in artificial reefs installed in September, 2016 in Namae-ri, Yangyang-gun, and Seokbyeong-ri, Pohangsi, Korea. Field surveys were conducted by SCUBA diving once a season in February, May, August, and November of 2017, and quantitative survey and qualitative survey were carried out in parallel. In this study, a total of 94 species, including 11 green algae, 15 brown algae and 68 red algae were appeared. 66 species (8 green algae, 9 brown algae, 49 red algae) and 65 species (7 green algae, 9 brown algae, 49 red algae) were collected and identified in Yangyang and Pohang. In dominant species, Yangyang was dominant species of Saccharina japonica and subdominant species of Ulva australis. Pohang dominated in order of Colpomenia sinuosa and Gelidium elegans. In both coastal areas, Ulva spp., Colpomenia sinuosa were grown at the early stage of reforestation, and perennial seaweeds such as Saccharina japonica, Ecklonia cava and Gelidium elegans were grown. In order to clarify the clustering relation through flora change, it is necessary to monitor the transition process until the seaweed community is stabilized by observing the long-term change through continuous monitoring.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.300-307
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• 2015

Seasonal variation in marine macroalgal community structure was examined at the intertidal zones of Geumgap, Jindo, Korea, from October 2013 to August 2014. In total, 56 macroalgal species were identified, including 9 green, 12 brown, and 35 red algae. Annual seaweed biomass was 548.96 g wet wt. /$m^2$ with seasonal range between 371.08 g wet wt. /$m^2$ at summer and 32.91 g wet wt. /$m^2$ at winter. The dominant seaweed in terms of biomass was Sargassum thunbergii and subdominant species were Gelidium elegans, Sargassum fusiforme, and Ishige okamurae. The vertical distribution of seaweeds from the upper to lower intertidal zones was Gloiopeltis spp., Ulva spp.- S. thunbergii, S. fusiforme, Ishige okamurae - S. thunbergii, S. fusiforme, G. elegans. Annual seaweed coverage, richness index (R), evenness index (J'), and diversity index (H') values were 27.95%, 6.10, 0.38, and 1.38, respectively. Coarsely branched form was the most dominant functional group in terms of species number and biomass among benthic macroalgal species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.237-240
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• 2017

During a scientific survey of Korean isopod fauna, we discovered two marine isopods, Limnoria segnoides Menzies, 1957 and Munna japonica Shimomura and Mawatari, 2001, which are new records to South Korea. Limnoria segnoides and M. japonica were collected by SCUBA diving from the subtidal zone of Jeju Island and Yangyang-gun in South Korea, respectively. In this paper, we provide diagnosis and illustrations of the two isopods. Additionally, we provide GenBank accession numbers of partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) of two species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2014

This study was carried out to examine seaweed community structure and distribution of crustose coralline algae at the intertidal and subtidal zones of Gallam, Samchuk, eastern coast of Korea. Total 112 species including 14 of green algae, 33 of brown algae, and 65 of red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 29 species were found throughout the year. The dominant species which contributed significantly to the total biomass were Ulva pertusa, Colpomenia spp., Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum fusiforme, Sargassum muticum, Sargassum thunbergii, Corallina pilulifera, and Gelidium elegans. Annual seaweed biomass in dry weight was 66.7 $gm^{-2}$ and maximum biomass was recorded seasonally in summer (107.5 $gm^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in autumn (36.2 $gm^{-2}$). In seaweed functional group analyses, coarsely branched form was the most dominant functional group constituting from 40.0 to 48.6% of the total flora. Ecological state group ESG II, as an opportunistic species, including sheet form, filamentous form, and coarsely branched form, consisted of 46~61 species, constituting 76.7~82.4%. Crustose coralline algae was observed throughout all seasons. Species of the crustose coralline algae were largely classified into Lithothamnion lemoineae, Lithophyllum okamurai, Lithophyllum yessoense, and Hydrolithon gardineri. The coverage of crustose coralline algae seems to be lower than that of other studies from 36.8% to 11% on average.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.655-665
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the community structure and biomass of benthic marine algae at the intertidal and subtidal zones of Eocheongdo on the western coast of Korea seasonally from July 2008 to April 2009. Total 101 species including 12 of green algae, 23 of brown algae and 66 of red algae were collected and identified. Among these species, 19 species were found throughout the year. The dominant species which contributed significantly to the total biomass were Corallina pilulifera, Gelidium elegans, Sargassum thunbergii, Sargassum fusiforme, Saccharina japonica, Sargassum honeri and Sargassum filicinum. Annual seaweed biomass in dry weight was $237.5gm^{-2}$ and maximum biomass was recorded seasonally in winter ($272.1gm^{-2}$), while minimum was recorded in summer ($204.5gm^{-2}$). The number of species and biomass of the subtidal zone were greater than those of the intertidal zone. The number of species and biomass in Eocheongdo seem to be higher than those of other islands in the western coast of Korea, due to the environmental conditions characterized by the increased transparency, and the well established rocky shore.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2011

Macroalgae are important primary producers in marine ecosystem. They don't only play an important role as bioindicators but also provide economic resources for humans. Seasonal and vertical variations in seaweed species composition and biomass were examined to determine the ecological status of seaweed beds around Udo, near Jeju Island. We obtained samples at two sites in the high-intertidal to subtidal zones using the quadrat method between June 2010 and May 2011. A total of 262 species were collected, including 31 green, 61 brown, and 170 red algae. The composition of algal species revealed a decrease in species growing in cold water in comparison with the list 20 years ago. The macroalgal mean biomass (g wet wt $m^{-2}$) was 3,476 g and 2,393 g from the two sites, respectively. Ecklonia cava had the greatest biomass at both sites. The seasonal dominant species by biomass at site 1 from the low-intertidal to 1-3 m depth of the subtidal zone was mostly comprised of thick-leathery form, such as Sargassum hemiphyllum, S. coreanum, and Ecklonia cava, whereas site 2 was comprised of the turf form, such as Chondrophycus intermedius, Chondracanthus intermedius, Dictyopteris prolifera, and Gelidium elegans. The current ecological status of the seaweed community in Udo is stable based on diversity and dominance indices.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2021

The marine algal flora and community structure of Dadohaehaesang National Park, the Southwestern coast of Korea, were investigated monthly during May, July and September 2012. As the results, a total of 86 species including 10 greens, 17 browns and 59 reds was identified, except for blue-greens and crustose reds. The seaweeds that commonly appear during the investigation period are the green algae Ulva australis, the brown algae Ishige okamurae, Myelophycus simplex, Sargassum fusiforme and S. thunbergii and the red algae Gelidiophycus freshwateri, Gelidium. elegans, Corallina officinalis, C. pilulifera, Caulacanthus ustulatus, Ahnfeltiopsis flabelliformis, and Chondrus ocellatus. In Jodo district (Yemiri, Changuri), Ulva australis and Gloiopeltis furcata were dominant species in May, Sargassum fusiforme and Ulva australis were dominant in July, and Gelidiophycus freshwateri and Ulva australis were dominant in September. In Soan/Cheongsan district (Hwaheungpo, Jungdori), Gloiopeltis tenax and Chondracanthus tenellus were dominant species in May, and Gloiopeltis tenax and Chondracanthus tenellus were dominant in July as well as in the spring. And the Caulacanthus ustulatus and Corallina sp. were dominant species in September.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2022

Agar, a heterogeneous polymer of galactose, is the main component of the cell wall of marine red algae. It is well established as a safe, non-digestible carbohydrate in oriental countries. Neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) prepared by hydrolyzing agar by microbial β-agarase have been reported to show safety. However, their immunological effects have not been reported yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate immune enhancing effects of neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) from marine red algae Gelidium elegans in mice by performing ex vivo experiments. Six-week-old mice were fed ad libitum. NAOs were orally administrated at three different concentrations (100, 500, and 2,500 mg/kg B.W./day) twice a week for four weeks. The group fed with NAOs at 2,500 mg/kg showed the highest proliferation of splenocytes and production levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in the ex vivo experiment. In conclusion, NAOs can enhance immune function, increase proliferation of splenocytes, and increase cytokine production by activating macrophages in mice.