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Edible Brown Seaweed Sargassum fusiforme (Harvey) Setchell, 1931 abbreviated as Sargassum fusiforme was used for folk medical therapy in East Asia countries over five hundred years. Saringosterol acetate (SA) was isolated from S. fusiforme in our previous study and indicated various effects. However, anti-obesity activity of SA and its mechanism still unknown.The inhibitory effect of SA, isolated from S. fusiforme, on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was investigated in vitro and in zebrafish model. Cell toxicity, differentiation, signaling pathway, and lipid accumulation of SA treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were determined. The body weight and triglyceride content of diet-induced obese (DIO) adult male zebrafish were measured from 12 to 17 weeks after fertilization.SA attenuated the differentiation of cells and reduced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride content in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. During the differentiation of adipocytes, SA suppressed fat accumulation and decreased the expression of signal factors responsible for adipogenesis. In SA-treated adipocytes, while fatty acid synthetase was downregulated, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was upregulated. Furthermore, SA suppressed body weight and triglyceride content in DIO zebrafish.SA is a potential therapeutic agent in the management of metabolic disorders, such as obesity.

In our previous study, the anticancer effect of the active fucoidan (JHCF4) isolated from acid-processed Sargassum fusiformis was evaluated. In this study, the liver-protective effects of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced Chang liver cell damage and apoptosis-related responses were investigated. Furthermore, the low cytotoxicity and high cell viability of JHCF4 against ethanol-induced cell damage, as well as its protective effect against ethanol-induced cell apoptosis, were observed via nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 in Chang liver cells. Additionally, the treatment of the 72 h post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish model with JHCF4 increased the ethanol-stimulated survival rates as well as decreased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death levels. JHCF4 was found to significantly decrease steatosis production in the 128 hpf zebrafish model by Oil Red O staining, as well as attenuate the malondialdehyde and increase the glutathione contents, compared with the untreated group. These results demonstrate that JHCF4 has a potential hepato-protective effect against ethanol-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo.

In this study, the saponin-rich fractions of five individual (two Red and three Black) sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) in South Korea were investigated for their antiproliferative effect against HL-60, B16F10, MCF-7, and Hep3B tumor cell lines. The red sea cucumber saponin-rich fraction (SSC) from Jeju Island (JRe) decreased the growth of HL-60 with an IC(50) value of 23.55 ± 3.40 μg/mL, which represented the strongest anticancer activity among the extracts. Further, SSC downregulated B-cell lymphoma extra-large (Bcl-xL), while upregulating, to different degrees, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), caspase-9, caspase-3, PARP cleavage, and apoptotic bodies in cancer cells. Evidence for SSC inducing apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated pathway was found. The contents of SSCs were determined using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry to comparatively evaluate the regional influence. In West Sea, the total SSC content of A. japonicus was 15.5 mg/g, representing the highest content, while A. japonicus in the South Sea yielded the lowest content at 8 mg/g. The major saponin constituent in SSC was identified as Holotoxin A(1), which may the anti-tumor compound in A. japonicus.

Fine dust generated by particulate matter (PM) pollution is a serious ecological issue in industrialized countries and causes disorders of the respiratory system and skin in humans. In the previous study

Sargassum fusiformis is among the most important edible brown seaweeds in Eastern Asia that contains various bioactive compounds and strong activities. Saringosterol acetate (SA) was successfully isolated from S. fusiformis in our previous research. In this study, SA was investigated for its anticancer effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. SA attenuated the survival rate of MCF-7 cells with an IC

Ginsenosides, including Rb

We had observed in our previous study that the active fucoidan (JHCF4), isolated from the crude fucoidan in acid-processed Hizikia fusiforme, possessed an anticancer effect. In this study, the antioxidant effect of JHCF4 was evaluated. Among the fractions, JHCF4 showed the highest scavenging activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), alkyl, and hydroxyl radicals, as well as protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in 2, 2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-treated Vero cells. Furthermore, JHCF4 showed a protective activity against AAPH-induced apoptosis, as observed by nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342. Our results showed that JHCF4 can up-regulate Bcl-xL, down-regulate Bax and cleave caspase-3 with increased concentrations in AAPH-induced Vero cells. JHCF4 induced anti-apoptosis via a mitochondria-mediated pathway. Additionally, JHCF4 was selected for further in vivo screening in a zebrafish model, which markedly decreased ROS generation and lipid peroxidation. Thus, JHCF4 showed a potential protective activity against AAPH-induced ROS both in vitro and in the zebrafish model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effects of fucoidan from three regional hijiki (Hizikia fusiforme) samples (Zhejiang-China, Jeju-Korea [JH], and Wando-Korea) in East Asia. Hijiki was processed using 1% citric acid to decrease heavy metal content. The JH sample was separated using diethylaminoethyl-cellulose-ion exchange chromatography to obtain four active fractions (JHCF1-JHCF4) and their monosaccharide composition was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the crude polysaccharides and four fucoidan fractions was analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. JHCF4 showed the highest fucose and sulfate content and decreased Hep3B cell growth in 48 h with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 33.53 ± 2.50 μg/ml, which represented the strongest anticancer activity. Further, nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 and acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining demonstrated that the anticancer activity of JHCF4 was mediated by apoptosis. Moreover, JHCF4 down-regulated B-cell lymphoma extra-large, while up-regulating Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3, and apoptotic bodies to different degrees in Hep3B cells. JHCF4 induced apoptosis via the generation of reactive oxygen species along with the concurrent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating the potential role of the mitochondria-mediated pathway. Therefore, these results indicate that JHCF4 exhibited antiproliferative effects on the investigated cancer cell lines.

Surface with micro-porous layer can enhance the boiling heat transfer efficiency of tube. The novel nucleate boiling tubes were manufactured by sinter-bonding metal particles on the outside surface. Two conventional bare tube reboilers were revamped with the novel tubes. Industrial application revealed that the revamps effectively increased the heat duty of reboilers with small heat transfer area and reduced heat transfer temperature difference across the heat exchanger. Porous surface tube was beneficial to heat transfer and operating cost.

Over the last ten years, sulfuric acid dewpoint corrosion has become a more important concern in refinery furnaces since sulfur levels in fuels have increased. Electroless nickel phosphorous coating is one of the most widely used industrial coatings owing to its good corrosion resistance in many highly corrosive environments. In this work, electroless Ni-P-SiO2 composite coatings were prepared on AISI 1020 carbon steel. And the corrosion behaviors of Ni-P-SiO2, Ni-P coatings and carbon steel substrate were evaluated by immersion, electrochemical tests in 5%wt sulfuric acid solution, and dewpoint corrosion tests in simulated furnace flue gas. The experimental results indicated that corrosion resistance properties of Ni-P-SiO2 coating was best, followed by Ni-P coating and carbon steel was worst.