Anti‐inflammatory bioactives in Alaskan seaweed: implications in metabolic syndrome (1045.14)

Abstract

A dominant factor underlying the development of metabolic syndrome is abdominal obesity, which is associated with chronic inflammation in adipose tissue. Alaska Native populations, who suffer disproportionately high rates of obesity, have shifted away from traditional dietary foods, like seaweeds, that are a rich source of polyphenols with potential to counteract metabolic syndrome. In this work, Alaskan seaweeds Fucus distichus (FD), Saccharina latissima (SL), Saccharina groenlandica (SG), Alaria marginata (AM), Pyropia fallax (PF), and Ulva lactuca (UL) were evaluated for their potential to ameliorate symptoms of obesity‐linked inflammatory pathways. High levels of phenolics were discovered in ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of AM, FD, and SG (326.8 ‐ 557.2 μg phloroglucinol equivalents (PGE)/mg extract). Fractions of AM, FD, SG, and SL reduced nitric oxide levels in LPS‐induced RAW 264.7 macrophages to basal levels, and assays with 3T3‐L1 adipocytes demonstrated that organic fractions of AM, SL, and UL decreased triglyceride accumulation 13.3 ‐ 24.7%. Subsequent analysis of AM fractions revealed reductions in mRNA expression levels for the inflammatory adipokines IL‐10, MCP‐1, iCAM, and TNF‐α by 92.6%, 50.7%, 67.3%, and 65.4%, respectively. These results support the potential of Alaskan algae to reduce inflammation and obesity in adipose tissue.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the UNC General Administration and NCSU's Plants for Human Health Institute