A systematic structural characterization of sulfated polysaccharides from the brown alga Hizikia fusiforme

Seaweeds play a vital role as a source of food and ingredients in traditional Korean medicine. Koreans consume seaweed as fresh vegetables, salad, soups, or snacks. There are several edible brown seaweed species are abundant along the shores of the Korean peninsula, such as Ecklonia cava, Hizikia fusiforme, Laminaria japonica, Pelvetia siliquosa, Sargassum fulvellum, and Undaria pinnatifida. With the growing body of scientific evidence, it is clear that these brown seaweeds are not only good substitutes for land vegetables but also a good source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The secondary metabolites identified from edible Korean brown seaweeds (phlorotannins, sulfated polysaccharides, pigments, and sterols) have the potential to be developed as functional food ingredients. However, seaweeds consumption and their industrial level applications as functional materials are limited compared to the land vegetables. Insufficient awareness about health benefits of seaweeds might be the reason for this issue. Thus, in this review health promotion properties associated with edible Korean brown seaweeds are summarized. The present study might therefore increase consumption and industrial use of brown seaweeds.

Anti-tumor activity of sulfated polysaccharides from Sargassum fusiforme

Among the components derived from brown algae, anionic sulfated polysaccharides, which contain sulfated fucose as the major monosaccharide, exert significant biological activities. In this study, we purified and structurally characterized sulfated polysaccharides from brown algae, Sargassum binderi (S. binderi; SBPs), and evaluated their biological activity in vitro and in vivo. The SBPs were separated based on their charges and their biophysical properties were investigated according to their functional groups, structural features, and molecular weights using FTIR, NMR, and MALS. Among all the SBPs, Fraction 4 (SBP-F4), with an average molecular weight of 2.867 × 105 g/mol, had the highest polysaccharide and sulfate contents (75.15 ± 0.25% and 24.08 ± 0.18%, respectively). The biological activities of SBP-F4 were investigated further in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that SBP-F4 significantly suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in LPS-activated macrophages. Moreover, in the LPS-treated zebrafish model, a significant decrease in cell death and NO production was observed. Collectively, these results show that SBPs not only exert protective effects against LPS-induced cytotoxicity but also inhibit the activation and anti-inflammatory activity of macrophages. Therefore, polysaccharides derived from S. binderi are potential anti-inflammatory agents for use in clinical settings.

The nuclear liver X receptors (LXRα/β) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα/γ) are involved in the regulation of multiple biological processes, including lipid metabolism and inflammation. The activation of these receptors has been found to have neuroprotective effects, making them interesting therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The Asian brown seaweed Sargassum fusiforme contains both LXR-activating (oxy)phytosterols and PPAR-activating fatty acids. We have previously shown that dietary supplementation with lipid extracts of Sargassum fusiforme prevents disease progression in a mouse model of AD, without inducing adverse effects associated with synthetic pan-LXR agonists. We now determined the LXRα/β- and PPARα/γ-activating capacity of lipid extracts of six European brown seaweed species (Alaria esculenta, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Himanthalia elongata, Saccharina latissima, and Sargassum muticum) and the Asian seaweed Sargassum fusiforme using a dual luciferase reporter assay. We analyzed the sterol and fatty acid profiles of the extracts by GC-MS and UPLC MS/MS, respectively, and determined their effects on the expression of LXR and PPAR target genes in several cell lines using quantitative PCR. All extracts were found to activate LXRs, with the Himanthalia elongata extract showing the most pronounced efficacy, comparable to Sargassum fusiforme, for LXR activation and transcriptional regulation of LXR-target genes. Extracts of Alaria esculenta, Fucus vesiculosus, and Saccharina latissima showed the highest capacity to activate PPARα, while extracts of Alaria esculenta, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, and Sargassum muticum showed the highest capacity to activate PPARγ, comparable to Sargassum fusiforme extract. In CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cells, all extracts induced expression of cholesterol efflux genes (ABCG1, ABCA1, and APOE) and suppressed expression of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis genes (DHCR7, DHCR24, HMGCR and SREBF2, and SREBF1, ACACA, SCD1 and FASN, respectively). Our data show that lipophilic fractions of European brown seaweeds activate LXRs and PPARs and thereby modulate lipid metabolism. These results support the potential of brown seaweeds in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and possibly cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases via concurrent activation of LXRs and PPARs.

Laminaria japonica (LJ) and Hizikia fusiforme (HF) are brown seaweeds known to have various health-promoting effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects and possible mechanism(s) of LJ and HF by using both in vitro and in vivo models. C2C12 myotubes, mouse-derived skeletal muscle cells, treated with LF or HF extracts were used for the in vitro model, and muscle tissues from C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% LF or HF for 16 weeks were used for the in vivo model. Although both the LF and HF extracts significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, the HF extract had a superior α-glucosidase inhibition than the LF extract. In addition, glucose uptake was significantly increased by LJ- and HF-treated groups when compared to the control group. Phosphorylation of protein kinase B and AMP-activated protein kinase was induced by LJ and HF in both the vivo and in vitro skeletal muscle models. Furthermore, LJ and HF significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α whereas both extracts increased interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated C2C12 myotubes. Taken together, these findings imply that the brown seaweeds LJ and HF could be useful therapeutic agents to attenuate muscle insulin resistance due to diet-induced obesity and its associated inflammation.

<p class="Default">Antioxidants play a central role in the prevention of carcinogenesis. The most natural compounds exhibit their protective effects by eliciting antioxidant potential. Sulfated polysaccharide was isolated from the brown algae <em>Padina tetrastromatica</em>, then purified and evaluated for its composition and <em>in vitro </em>antioxidant and antimitotic activities. Both ethanolic sulfated polysaccharide (ESPS) and ethanolic sulfated polysaccharide-column purified (ESPS-CP) exhibited considerable amount of carbohydrates (11.2% and 17.6%), sulfate (11.4% and 7.4%), fucose (5.5% and 15.7%), uronic acid (4.7% and 11.8%), xylose (0.5% and 0.03%) and sulfated polysaccharide (2.4% and 12.7%) content. The FTIR analysis and phytochemical screening also confirmed the presence of sulfated polysaccharides. In the <em>in vitro</em> antioxidant activity determination using DPPH (1-1-diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity and reducing power, ESPS showed more activity than ESPS-CP. In the case of nitric oxide radical scavenging, ESPS-CP was found to be more effective. At a concentration of 2mg/ml, both samples were potent antioxidants with significant IC<sub>50</sub> values. The antimitotic studies such as mitotic index in onion root tips and sprouting assay in green gram seeds also proved that both the extracts are able to prevent mitosis. The extrapolation of these results can find opportunities in therapeutic regiments of cancer.<strong></strong></p>

Mineral and heavy metal contents were determined in three brown edible seaweeds (sea mustard, Undaria pinnatifida; seaweed fusiforme, Hizikia fusiforme; sea tangle, Laminaria japonica) collected from Gijang and Wando in Korea, and two green seaweeds (sea lettuce, Enteromorpha prolifera; green laver, Monostroma nitidum) collected from Gijang. Seaweeds contained high proportions of ash (13.8-24.8%) and sulfate (1.08-3.25%). In brown seaweeds, ash contents (24.5-24.8%) were higher than in green seaweeds (13.8-15.2%). The differences of mineral contents were remarkable in both Gijang and Wando and in 5 various kinds of seaweeds. Brown seaweeds contained higher amounts of both macro-minerals (657-13,947 mg/100 g; Ca, Mg, Na, K) and trace elements (0.27-12.98 mg/100 g; Fe, Al, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni), and green seaweeds also had relatively higher amounts of both macro-minerals (233-5,279 mg/100 g) and trace elements (0.26-10.61 mg/100 g).

Isolation and preliminary characterization of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides with blood-anticoagulant activity from the brown seaweed Hizikia fusiforme

Summary form only given. Second and third harmonic signals generated in reflection and diffraction from the surface of photonic crystal (PC) waveguides are considered as a spectroscopic diagnostic tool in two leading material systems: GaAs and Silicon. Measurements of second harmonic generation (SHG) in reflection from GaAs-based 2D patterned planar waveguides reveal resonant interaction of the impinging radiation with the quasi-guided modes of the photonic structure. Spectral and angular dependence of these effects reflects the structure of the sample and may be used for an accurate energy and momentum positioning of the photonic bands. Preliminary results of third harmonic generation (THG) from Si-based 1D patterned planar waveguides in the visible spectral range are also presented, indicating harmonic generation as a possible route towards systematic characterization and description of photonic structures.

Chitosan-modified magnetic particles for efficient extraction of flavonoids from Flos sophorae immaturus: Characterization, optimization and selective adsorption of catechol-containing structure.

Four bulk polycrystalline (In0.85−xSnxFe0.15)2O3 samples with x=0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 were synthesized, where carrier concentration n was controlled by varying Sn doping concentration x. Strong room temperature ferromagnetism was observed. A systematic characterization and analysis of structure, purity, magnetic, and transport properties indicates that ferromagnetism is due to neither impurities nor charge carriers. The four samples were annealed in air and high vacuum alternately. The ferromagnetism signal disappears and appears accordingly. Based on these results, we conclude that room temperature ferromagnetism in (In0.85−xSnxFe0.15)2O3 system is closely and directly related to oxygen vacancies in the samples.

Introduction Applications of acoustic cavitation gain in importance and become more widespread recently. While its utilization in traditional fields persists and is subject to optimization, new types and areas of application emerge as well. In many cases, however, it is realized that not all physical processes involved are well enough understood yet. In particular the link between process parameters like acoustic field geometry, frequency or intensity, and the observed or desired effects, might not be sufficiently clear. This is sometimes true even qualitatively, and then a quantitative analysis is naturally out of the scope anyway. An important aspect of this link in acoustic cavitation is the formation of bubble structures: The applied sound field generates certain bubble distributions in space and time with specific bubble size populations, which in turn mediate the microscopic effects via their oscillation and/or collapse properties. A systematic characterization and comprehension of different bubble structures has started only recently [1], and here we want to give a further contribution to advance the knowledge with respect to the process chain in acoustic cavitation. A distinct bubble structure at 230 kHz has been observed and investigated by means of high-speed recordings, sonoluminescence measurements, and cleaning tests. We speculate that the observed phenomena are universal for a class of acoustic field geometries over a broader frequency range.

<p>Natural permeable media like soils, sediments, but also rocks, provide niches of different quality for the inhabitation by a diversity of organisms and communities. The locations for colonization are the microstructured, frequently hierarchic organized heterogeneous biogeochemical interfaces (BGI) that evolve during weathering and pedogenesis. These BGIs are built from a vast variety of organic and inorganic materials and organisms and become manifest as crusts or (micro)aggregates that frame the void network and connect to the liquid and gaseous phases. Microaggregates, operationally defined as composite, microporous, and themselves already heterogeneous composite structures smaller than <250µm, are supposed to be fundamental structural components, because of their stability, persistence, ubiquitous presence, and growing fraction during weathering and pedogenesis. Although research on structure development and fluid-solid interaction in permeable media is an important, exciting and competitive field of soil science, in particular the co-evolution of structure and function due to the interplay of the multitude of biochemical and biophysical processes in view of the properties, functions and resilience of soils has yet to be unravelled. By now, it is well accepted that such and endeavour requires integration of soil physical, chemical, and biological disciplines and demands the development and application of joint advanced characterization and probing techniques including molecular biology within a multi- and inter-disciplinary research approach. Within the framework of the research unit 2179 “Microaggregate development and turnover in soil” and its preceding priority research program 1315 “Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil”, collaborative research has been put in action that aim at the systematic characterization and functional exploration of aggregates structures and the associated BGI. The presentation will give a compact introduction on the propositions, concepts, and challenges of this exciting research field that aims to contribute to a fundamental understanding of the basics of the co-evolution of architecture and function and the consequences for soil based ecosystem services, and resilience of soils.</p>

Barium titanate (BaTiO3), the most popular dielectric material for use in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), is often doped with rare earths ions to tailor its properties (e.g., Curie temperature, dielectric loss, and temperature coefficient of capacitance) and to control the mobility of its internal domain structure. The concurrent needs of device miniaturization and reliability improvement have challenged technologists to refine the design criteria regarding both material characteristics and device structure. However, further improvements cannot be easily achieved by merely empirical approaches and call for more systematic characterizations from the material physics viewpoint. This paper emphasizes the effect on the dielectric properties that arise from the formation of internal domain structures. A confocal/polarized Raman spectroscopic algorithm is developed and applied to quantitative characterizations of domain structures in BaTiO3 and applied to non‐destructive diagnostics of an MLCC device.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that take significant roles in extracellular matrix degradation and therefore linked to several complications such as metastasis of cancer progression, oxidative stress, and hepatic fibrosis. Hizikia fusiformis, a brown algae, was reported to possess bioactivities, including but not limited to, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory partly due to bioactive polysaccharide contents. In this study, the potential of H. fusiformis against cancer cell invasion was evaluated through the MMP inhibitory effect in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells in vitro. H. fusiformis crude extract was fractionated with organic solvents, H2O, n-BuOH, 85% aqueous MeOH, and n-hexane (n-Hex). The non-toxicity of the fractions was confirmed by MTT assay. All fractions inhibited the enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 according to the gelatin zymography assay. Cell migration was also significantly inhibited by the n-Hex fraction. In addition, both gene and protein expressions of MMP-2 and -9, and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The fractions suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 while elevating the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, with the H2O fraction being the least effective while n-Hex fraction the most. Collectively, the n-Hex fraction from brown algae H. fusiformis could be a potential inhibitor of MMPs, suggesting the presence of various derivatives of polysaccharides in high amounts.