• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1691-1698
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• 2013

The anti-inflammatory effects of Sargassum micracanthum ethanol extract (SMEE) was investigated using LPS-induced inflammatory response in this study. As a result, there was no cytotoxicity in the macrophage proliferation treated with SMEE compared with the control. SMEE inhibited production of nitric oxide and cytokines (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 were suppressed via inhibition of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ p65 expression by SMEE treatment. The formation of edema in the mouse ear was reduced at the highest dose tested compared with that in the control, and reduction of ear thickness was observed in histological analysis. Moreover, in an acute toxicity test, no mortalities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of SMEE over a 2-week observation period. These results suggest that SMEE may have significant effects on inflammatory mediators and be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic material.

• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.393-405
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• 2006

Eight species of Sargassum subgenus Bactrophycus section Halochloa and Repentia were collected from the coasts of Korea: Sargassum coreanum J. Agardh, Sargassum sagamianum Yendo, Sargassum micracanthum (Kützing) Endlicher, Sargassum macrocarpum C. Agardh, Sargassum autumnale Yoshida, Sargassum siliquastrum (Mertens ex Turner) C. Agardh, Sargassum serratifolium (C. Agardh) C. Agardh, Sargassum yezoense (Yamada) Yoshida et Konno. These species were investigated on morphological variations and geographical distributions in Korea. The valuable taxonomic characters between similar species of these section were discussed with special reference to types of holdfasts, shape of main branch, leaves and vesicles.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2008

Seaweed biomass was estimated using a nondestructive sampling method in the rocky intertidal and subtidal zone in Daejin on the mid-east coast of Korea from August 2006 to April 2008. Seasonal sampling were done at the depth of 0, 1, 5, 10 m using 50 x 50 cm quadrat. A total of 95 species, including 11 chlorophytes, 26 phaeophytes, 57 rhodophytes and one sea grass were identified. Mean biomass was comprised of 1,292 g wet wt m$^{-2}$ and the biomass values varied seasonally from 904 g to 1,945 g. Dominant species in biomass were Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. yezoense), Corallina pilulifera, Phyllospadix japonica, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Hizikia fusiformis, Codium arabicum and Chondrus ocellatus at Daejin. The vertical distribution of algae were characterized by Corallina pilulifera, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Sargassum spp. (S. confusum, S. yezoense), Hizikia fusiformis and Grateloupia elliptica at intertidal zone, Sargassum spp. (S. fulvellum, S. horneri, S. yezoense), Phyllospadix japonica, Codium arabicum, Undaria pinnatifida and Corallina pilulifera at 1 m depth, Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. micracanthum, S. yezoense), Phyllospadix japonica, Grateloupia elliptica, Gelidium amansii and Codium arabicum at 5 m depth and Phyllospadix japonica, Codium arabicum, Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. micracanthum, S. yezoense) and Undaria pinnatifida at 10 m depth.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2016

Sargassum micracanthum (SM) is a member of the family Sargassaceae and commonly occurs along the coast of Korea. Extracts from SM were evaluated for their antioxidant and collagenase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities based on their total phenolic concentration (TPC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect, and metal-chelating effect. The TPC of SM ethanol and water extracts used in the study was 11.20 and 11.70 mg/g of dry sample, respectively. Both SM ethanol and water extracts had high DPPH radical-scavenging effect. The metal-chelating effect of SM ethanol extract (40.47% at 0.5 mg/ml) was higher than that of water extract (23.28% at 0.5 mg/ml). With regard to the anti-wrinkling effect, SM ethanol extract showed collagenase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $488.20{\mu}g/ml$. Lastly, regarding the anti-melanogenesis effect, SM ethanol extract showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity (45.08% at 5 mg/ml) than that shown by the water extract (21.29% at 5 mg/ml). These results suggest that SM has the potential to be a resource with natural anti-melanogenesis, anti-wrinkle, and anti-oxidant effects.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.455-461
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• 2012

Obesity, a strong risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, is characterized by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from precursor cells, preadipocytes. Recent research suggests that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in 3T3-L1 adipocyte facilitates adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation. This study was to investigate whether reduced ROS production by Sargassum micracanthum extract (SME) could protect the development of obesity through inhibition of adipogenesis. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated SME for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. The extent of differentiation reflected by amount of lipid accumulation and ROS production was determined by Oil red O staining and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. Treatment of SME significantly inhibited ROS production and adipocyte differentiation that is depend on down regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a major ROS generator, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), a key adipogenic transcription factor. These results indicate that SME can inhibit adipogenesis through a reduced ROS level that involves down-regulation of NOX4 expression or via modulation of adipogenic transcription factor.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease preceding the development of allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Sargassum micracanthum ethanol extract (SMEE) on AD. AD was induced by spreading 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzen (DNCB) on the back sides of BALB/c mice. The efficacy of SMEE was tested by observing the skin clinical severity score, proliferations of Raw 264.7 cells and the secretion of cytokines and IgE. The secretion of IL-4, and IgE was significantly decreased by SMEE in a dose dependent manner, while IFN-${\gamma}$ was increased. In addition, SMEE alleviated the AD symptoms better when compared to the positive controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that SMEE has an inhibitory effect on AD, and may serve as a useful biomaterial for the development of cosmeceuticals.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2008

The species composition and variation of benthic marine algae at Daejin and Jukbyeon on the mid-east coast of Korea were investigated seasonally from August 2006 to April 2007. As a result, the total of 85 species, including 8 chlorophytes, 26 phaeophytes, 50 rhodophytes and 1 sea grass were identified. 52 species were found at Daejin and 74 species at Jukbyeon. Dominant species in importance value were Corallina pilulifera, Chondrus ocellatus, melobesioidean algae, Sargassum horneri, Sargassum yezoense and Phyllospadix japonica at Daejin, and Corallina pilulifera, melobesioidean algae, Phyllospadix japonica, Acrosorium polyneurum, Sargassum siliquastrum and Hizikia fusiformis at Jukbyeon, respectively. The vertical distribution of algae were characterized by Corallina pilulifera, Hizikia fusiformis, Sargassum spp. (S. siliquastrum, S. yezoense) and Symphyocladia latiuscula at intertidal zone, Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. serratifolium, S. yezoense), melobesioidean algae, Phyllospadix japonica and Corallina pilulifera at 1 m depth, melobesioidean algae, Phyllospadix japonica and Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. yezoense) at 5 m depth and melobesioidean algae, Phyllospadix japonica and Sargassum spp. (S. horneri, S. micracanthum, S. yezoense) at 10 m depth.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2014

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sargassum micracanthum water extract (SMWE) was investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in this study. The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells were used and MTT assay was performed to measure the cell proliferation ability. The secretion of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-$1{\beta}$ was measured in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells by ELISA. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B p65 protein was studied by immunoblotting. The Balb/c mice were used for an acute toxicity test, and imprinting control region mice were purchased to evaluate a croton oil-induced ear edema. As a result, there was no cytotoxicity in the macrophage proliferation treated with SMWE compared to the control. NO levels decreased with increasing concentration of SMWE and were inhibited over 50%. Moreover, the secretion of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, especially, IL-$1{\beta}$ inhibition activity was over 50% at 50 ${mu}g$/mL. The formation of ear edema of mice was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to that in the control. Moreover, in acute toxicity test, no moralities occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of SMWE over 2 weeks observation period. These results suggested that SMWE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic materials.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 1986

The marine algal communities of Yonhwa-do at the southern coast of Korea were investigated in aspects to quantitative analysis of their structure and dynamics. As a result, 114 species, including 2 blue-green, 69 red, 25 brown and 18 green algae, were identified. The R/P value(2.8) is higher than that of other regions of the southern coast of Korea. Sheet and filamentous groups of the functional groups of algae showed higher composition rate in spring and summer than in autumn and winter, but coarsely branched and thick leathery groups showed an opposite tendency. Cluster analysis based on species presence suggested the existence of 5 distinct groups in spring, but 3 groups in the other seasons. The species exhibiting important value above 20 were as follows: Porphyra suborbiculata, Corallina pilulifera, Hizikia fusiforme, Sargassum thunbergii, Undaria pinnatifida, Ishige okamurai, Chondria crassicaulis, and crustose coralline algae. The coverage of algal communities composed only of crustose coralline algal complex was higher than that of other algal complex, but occurrence frequency of these two communities was indifferent. It is suggested that the occurrence in high quantity of crustose coralline algae from this area is related to grazing by herbivorous animals.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.257-270
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• 2004

In order to clarify the structure and seasonal dynamics of warm tolerant benthic marine algal community in Korea, the species composition and biomass of marine algae at the discharge canal of Uljin nuclear power plant on the East Coast of Korea were investigated seasonally from February 1992 to October 2000. 107 species of marine algae were found at the discharge canal during the past nine years. In general, the number of species observed was abundant in spring or summer and less in autumn or winter. 27 species (4 blue-green, 5 green, 6 brown and 12 red algae) of marine algae occurred more than 1/ 6 frequency and thus can be categorized as warm tolerant species. Among these, one brown (Dictyota dichotoma) and four red algae (Gelidium amansii, Anphiroa ephedraea, Hydrolithon sargassi, Marginisporum crassissimum) are recorded as warm tolerant marine algae for the first time in Korea. Padina arborescens, Anphiroa zonata and Corallina pilulifera were common species found more than 75% frequency. Seasonal fluctuations of mean biomass were 0-1,330 g dry wt m^(-2) and dominant species in biomass were Corallina pilulifera (contribution to a total biomass proportion 34%), Anphiroa zonata (23%), Padina arborescens (18%) and Sargassum micracanthum (11%). The red algae appeared as predominant algal group at the discharge canal of Uljin nuclear power plant in the qualitative and quantitative aspects. The green algae such as Enterornorpha compressa appeared rather frequently at the discharge canal, but the biomass proportion was very low, in contrast to Kori nuclear power plant where there was definite green algal dominance. Differences in algal communities developed at the discharge canals of Uljin and Kori nuclear power plant on the East Coast of Korea, particularly biomass proportions of green algae, can probably be related to local environmental factors such as water velocity through the canal and natural seawater temperatures.