• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 1988

The contents of dietary fiber and physical properties of seaweed products for export produced in the south west sea side of korea were determined. The samples selected in this study were Dried sea mustard, Dried sea tangle, Cooked seaweed fusiforme, Dried laver, Dried sen lattuce and Agar-agar. The results were as follows : The contents of dietary fiber were 0.05-41.52% of Neutral Detergent Fiber, 0.01-26. 20% of Acid Detergent Fiber, 0-6.94% of Lignin, 0.04-25.79% of Hemicellulose and 0.01-19.26% of Cellulose and Cooked seaweed fusiforme, Dried son mustard and Dried sea tangle she wed higher values. Water-Holding Capacity was 6.1-19.65 water/g Acetone Dried Powder and Dried sea mustard showed the Highest value. Densities were 500-806mg/ml of direct density, 0.562-0.833g/cc of bulk density, 1.40-2.01g/m1 of hydrated density and 102-160% hydrated volume expansion. Direct density and bulk density corresponded largely.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.561-567
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• 2021

The edible sargasso seaweed hijiki Sargassum fusiforme is known to have high concentration of arsenic, which is a threat to human health, particularly due to inorganic arsenic. In this study, various methods were used to remove inorganic arsenic from steamed hijiki concentrate. The highest concentration of arsenate [As(V)] in both raw and processed hijiki during steamed hijiki manufacturing process was within the range of 8.213-14.356 mg/kg, and it is a potential source of inorganic arsenic, which can result in re-contamination and cause environmental pollution. The removal efficiencies of the various removal methods were within the range of 57.3-83.4%, and 19.0% reduction was achieved using activated carbon and alginate bead. Further, activated carbon showed the best adsorption effect of inorganic arsenic. Therefore, we suggest that activated carbon is a suitable efficient method for removing inorganic arsenic and has low operational costs in field applicability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2023

Seaweed-derived foods have long been popular in Korea because of their high content of nutrients that are beneficial to the human body. Recently, Korean seaweeds have been used as raw materials to produce new natural products with health benefits. Herein, we compared the antioxidant activity of 16 Korean seaweed extracts to explore their potential utility as health foods. The total phenolic content (TPC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of seaweed extracts were determined. We also investigated their ability to protect human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cells against hydrogen peroxide. The results showed that seaweed extracts at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL did not cause any cell toxicity. Sargassum thunbergii (Jichung-i) had the highest TPC and radical scavenging effects, followed by Porphyra tenera (Gim), Silvetia siliquosa (Tteumbugi), and Sargassum fusiforme (Tot). Hydrogen peroxide increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, while P. tenera (Gim), Saccharina japonica (Dasima), and S. thunbergii (Jichung-i) extracts significantly decreased it. The effect was highest in the S. thunbergii (Jichung-i)-treated HDF cells. These findings indicate that S. thunbergii (Jichung-i) shows promise as a potential antioxidant raw material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.621-628
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• 1993

Total lipid contents from 10 species of marine algae(2 green, 5 brown, and 3 red algae) collected from different places in Korea were examined and their fatty acid compositions were compared among species and habitats. Total lipid(TL) was prominent in green laver(about 7.3~10.1%) of the green algae, in sea mustard and seaweed fusiforme(about 3.1~4.8%) of the brown algae and purple laver(about 4.9~6.4%) of the red algae. Sea mustard and seaweed fusiforme collected at Chungmu contained a relatively high level of TL than that at Yosu and Kijang. The TL content of purple laver showed the highest portion in that collected at Nakdong. Green algae comprised the majority of n-3 fatty acids(29.0~66.3%), which mainly consisted of 16 : 4(n-3) (or 16 : 3 (n-3)), 18 : 3(n-3) and 18 : 4(n-3). Brown algae accounted for a low level of n-3 fatty acids(17.9~36.5%) mainly 18 : 4(n-3), 18 : 3(n-3) and 20 : 5(n-3), whereas the brown algae contained a significant level of n-6 fatty acids(7.23~26.5%) such as 20 : 4(n-6) and 18 : 2(n-6). In the case of red algae, the n-3 fatty acids consisted mostly of 20 : 5(n-3) which scored 53% of polyenoic acids in purple laver collected at Nakdong. The proportion of n-3 fatty acids in algae belonging to the same species was higher in algae of high TL contents. Consequently, TL and n-3 fatty acid levels from the seaweeds studied in this paper were different from their habitats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.300-308
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is a disease involving a decrease in bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. Osteoblast and osteoclast activities are important for bone formation. The MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell line is a well-accepted model of osteogellsis in vitro. Hijikia fusiforme is a kind of edible brown seaweed that grows mainly in the Northwest Pacific region, including the countries of Korea, Japan and China, and it has been widely used as a medicinal and health food in Korea. In this study, by using osteoblasts, the effects of Hijikia fusiforme fractions on proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis and mineralization of cells were investigated. Hijikia fusiforme were subjected to fractionation by using hexane, methanol, butanol and aqueous. Proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells that were treated with Hijikia fusiforme fractions increased by approximately 120%. Regarding effects of Hijikia fusiforme fractions on ALP activity, 1 ${\mu}g$/ml butanol fraction showed the highest activity. The synthesis of collagen increased significantly in response to treatment with Hijikia fusiforme fractions, with the exception of the hexane fraction. Moreover, mineralization in the MC3T3-E1 cells that were treated with 100 ${\mu}g$/ml butanol fraction increased by 281%. Also, when 100 ${\mu}g$/ml aqueous fraction was added, mineralization increased by 240%. These results indicate that Hijikia fusiforme fractions have anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.580-592
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to further investigate the potential health beneficial effects of long-term seaweed supplementation on lipid metabolism and hepatic functions in DIO mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four brown seaweeds (Undaria pinnatifida [UP], Laminaria japonica [LJ], Sargassum fulvellum [SF], or Hizikia fusiforme [HF]) were added to a high fat diet (HFD) at a 5% ratio and supplemented to C57BL/6N mice for 16 weeks. Triglycerides (TGs) and total cholesterol (TC) in the liver, feces, and plasma were measured. Fecal bile acid (BA) levels in feces were monitored. Hepatic insulin signaling- and lipogenesis-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly reduced in the LJ, SF, and HF groups compared to the HFD group by the end of 16-week feeding period. Plasma TG levels and hepatic lipid accumulation were significantly reduced in all 4 seaweed supplemented groups, whereas plasma TC levels were only suppressed in the UP and HF groups compared to the HFD group. Fecal BA levels were significantly elevated by UP, LJ, and SF supplementation compared to HFD feeding only. Lastly, regarding hepatic insulin signaling-related proteins, phosphorylation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase was significantly up-regulated by all 4 types of seaweed, whereas phosphorylation of protein kinase B was up-regulated only in the SF and HF groups. Lipogenesis-related proteins in the liver were effectively down-regulated by HF supplementation in DIO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Brown seaweed consumption showed hypotriglyceridemic effects in the prolonged DIO mouse model. Specifically, combinatory regulation of BA excretion and lipogenesis-related proteins in the liver by seaweed supplementation contributed to the reduction of plasma and hepatic TG levels, which inhibited hyperglycemia in DIO mice. Thus, the discrepant and species-specific functions of brown seaweeds provide novel insights for the selection of future targets for therapeutic agents.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.385-392
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• 2016

Seasonal variability in the algal community structure of intertidal zones was examined at six study sites in Marine National Parks, on the western and southern coasts of Korea from March to November 2015. A total of 193 species of algae, comprising 27 green, 40 brown and 126 red algae, were identified. Algal biomass averaged 101.50 g dry wt./m² with a maximal at Tonggae (168.12 g dry wt./m²) and minimum at Haseom (54.49 g dry wt./m²). The dominant seaweeds by biomass were Sargassum thunbergii at five sites (Tonggae, Haseom, Namdongri, Ando amd Sinjeonri), and S. fusiforme at Soando. Community indices measured as follows: dominance index (DI), 0.31–0.69; richness index (R), 7.30–11.43; evenness index (J'), 0.33–0.49; and diversity index (H'), 1.15–1.86. As evaluated using community indices and environmental states, the EEI (Ecological Evaluation Index) of the Marine National Park was “normal”. The present results indicate that seaweed community structures and indices could be used to evaluate the environmental status of coastal ecosystems.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seaweeds have been reported to have various health beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of four types of domestic brown seaweeds in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing Undaria Pinnatifida, HFD containing Laminaria Japonica (LJ), HFD containing Sargassum Fulvellum, or HFD containing Hizikia Fusiforme (HF) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: Brown seaweed supplementation did not affect long-term HFD-associated changes in body weight or adiposity, although mice fed HFD + LJ or HFD + HF gained slightly less body weight compared with those fed HFD at the beginning of feeding. Despite being obese, mice fed HFD + LJ appeared to show improved insulin sensitivity compared to mice fed HFD. Consistently, we observed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in mice fed HFD + LJ compared with those of mice fed HFD. Although no significant differences in adipocyte size were detected among the HFD-fed groups, consumption of seaweeds decreased formation of HFD-induced crown-like structures in gonadal adipose tissue as well as plasma inflammatory cytokines. BMDM from mice fed HFDs with seaweeds showed differential regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 compared with BMDM from mice fed HFD by LPS stimulation. CONCLUSION: Although seaweed consumption did not prevent long-term HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice, it reduced insulin resistance (IR) and circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, seaweeds may ameliorate systemic inflammation and IR in obesity partially due to inhibition of inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue cells as well as bone marrow-derived immune cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1581-1590
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• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of brown edible seaweed that mainly grows in the temperate seaside areas of the northwest pacific, including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as a health food for hundreds of years. Recently, H. fusiforme has been known to exert pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticoagulant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of H. fusiforme in malignant cells have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of ethyl alcohol extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) on the anti-proliferative effects of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were investigated. EAHF treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition by including apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells and G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 cells, which could be proved by MTT assay, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the increase in apoptosis induced by EAHF treatment correlated with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. EAHF treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, $\beta$-catenin, phospholipase-${\gamma}1$ protein and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. fusiforme.