新冠病毒感染疫情严重威胁着世界各国人民的生命健康。目前，对病毒感染的防治研究主要集中在抑制病毒与分子受体的结合上。AXL作为新发现的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型（SARS-CoV-2）受体，在协助病毒感染人体呼吸系统中发挥着重要作用，是未来临床干预的潜在靶点。本研究对已发表的单细胞测序数据进行整理和分析，发现AXL在年轻人肺细胞中的表达水平明显高于老年人。人胚肺二倍体成纤维细胞（2BS）是衰老研究的公认细胞株。本文采用2BS细胞构建复制性细胞衰老模型，发现年轻细胞中AXL的蛋白水平明显高于衰老细胞，据此推测年轻人感染的风险可能更高，需要注意防护。我们发现一种羊栖菜褐藻多糖硫酸酯组分（SFW-3）可显著下调年轻2BS细胞中AXL的表达水平，表明SFW-3具有一定的抗SARS-CoV-2感染的研究价值，同时表明2BS细胞株也可作为潜在的SARS-CoV-2体外感染模型。
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sargassum/metabolism* ; Diploidy ; Sulfates/metabolism* ; COVID-19 ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Lung

Animals ; Glycyrrhiza/adverse effects* ; Plant Extracts/toxicity* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sargassum

In order to evaluate the composition and distribution characteristics of inorganic elements in Laminaria japonica, this study employed inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) to detect the inorganic elements and used high performance liquid chromatography tandem ICP-MS(HPLC-ICP-MS) to determine the content of different arsenic species in L. japonica from diffe-rent origins. Micro X-ray fluorescence(Micro-XRF) was used to determine micro-area distribution of inorganic elements in L. japonica. The results showed that the average content of Mn, Fe, Sr, and Al was high, and that of As and Cr exceeded the limits of the national food safety standard. According to the results of HPLC-ICP-MS, arsenobetaine(AsB) was the main species of As contained in L. japonica. The more toxic inorganic arsenic accounts for a small proportion, whereas its content was 1-4 times of the limit in the national food safety standard. The results of Micro-XRF showed that As, Pb, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Ni were mainly distributed on the surface of L. japonica. Among them, As and Pb had a clear tendency to diffuse from the surface to the inside. The results of the study can provide a basis for the processing as well as the medicinal and edible safety evaluation of L. japonica.
Arsenic/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Laminaria ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Spectrum Analysis ; Trace Elements/analysis*

Sargassum fusiforme (S. fusiforme) has been used as an ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years. However, there are a limited number of studies concerning its therapeutic mechanism. High performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) analysis showed that the average molecular weight of the S. fusiforme polysaccharide, SFPS 191212, is 43 kDa. SFPS 191212 is composed of mannose, rhamnose, galactose, xylose, glucose, and fucose (at a molar ratio: 2.1 : 2.9 : 1.8 : 15.5 : 4.6 : 62.5) with α- and β-configurations. The present research evaluated the anti-tumor potential of the S. fusiforme polysaccharide in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells in vitro. To explore the SFPS 191212's apoptosis mechanism in HEL cells, transcriptome analysis was performed on HEL cells that were incubated with SFPS 191212. The inhibitory effect of SFPS 191212 on HEL cell growth was also analyzed. It was found that SFPS 191212 inhibited HEL cell proliferation, reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and induced an insignificant toxic effect on normal human embryonic lung (MRC-5) cells. Compared with the control group, transcriptome analysis identified a total of 598 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 243 up-regulated genes and 355 down-regulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on all DEGs, and 900 GO terms and 52 pathways were found to be significantly enriched. Finally, 23 DEGs were randomly selected and confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, SFPS 191212 down-regulated the PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway. Our results provide a framework for understanding the effect of SFPS 191212 on cancer cells and can serve as a resource for delineating the anti-tumor mechanisms of S. fusiforme.
Humans ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Sargassum ; Transcriptome

Undaria pinnatifida) (15.4 g dry weight/day; n = 11) or control (n = 11). Changes in menopausal symptoms were measured using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) before, immediately after, and 2 weeks after the end of the marine healing program. The city group completed the MRS at baseline and on day 20. Within subject differences of menopausal symptoms between baseline and immediately after the marine healing program were assessed using paired t-test. Intervention effects were assessed by mixed analysis of variance. Somatic, psychological, and urogenital symptoms were immediately alleviated after the marine healing program. No effect of sea mustard was detected in the marine group. After 2 weeks, the effect of marine healing persisted in physical and mental exhaustion only. A 5-day integrated marine healing program, but not additional sea mustard intake, temporarily alleviated menopausal symptoms. The reduction in physical and mental exhaustion after marine healing can be maintained for 2 weeks.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0004025]]>
Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Information Services ; Menopause ; Mustard Plant ; Quality of Life ; Seaweed ; Undaria

PURPOSE: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models.METHODS: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit.RESULTS: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group.CONCLUSION: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.
Body Weight ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Flow Cytometry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide ; Sargassum ; Water

With the improvement of living standard,the theory of " medicine and food homology" has developed rapidly in the field of diet,medicine and health preservation. In recent years,many literatures have been reported on the active ingredients and pharmacological effects of medicinal and edible plants,but relatively few reports have been reported on their safety investigation. Therefore,to further evaluate the quality and safety of medicinal and edible plants,Astragali Radix,Codonopsis Radix and Laminariae Thallus were selected as our research objects in this study. Moreover,the pollution level and the potential health risk of heavy metals were deeply assessed in different types of medicinal and edible plants. Especially,the contents of chromium,copper,arsenic,cadmium,mercury and lead in these three herbs were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry( ICP-MS),and their health risk level was evaluated by target hazard coefficient method. The results showed that under the international heavy metal limit standard( ISO 18664-2015,GB 2762-2017),the over-standard rates were 25%,77% and 100% in 16 batches of Astragali Radix,26 batches of Codonopsis Radix and 9 batches of Laminariae Thallus,respectively. Besides,the values of target hazard quotients( THQ) for adults and children are 0. 028 244,0. 063 505 and 0. 014 485,0. 032 568 in Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula,respectively,which were higher than the standard values of 0. 02 and 0. 011 25. While,the total heavy metals THQ values for adults and children are 0. 023 734 and 0. 020 287 in Laminariae Thallus,which were much higher than the standard values of 0. 008 0 and 0. 007 5. However,the CR values of As,Cd and Pb in the three herbs were lower than 1×10~(-6). Above results indicated that those six harmful elements have certain health hazards to the exposed population,but there is no potential carcinogenic effect. It can be seen that,there were still presence of the pollution of harmful elements,and it is necessary to establish the reasonable limit standards and quality control methods of medicinal and edible plants in time.
Adult ; Astragalus propinquus ; Child ; Codonopsis/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Humans ; Laminaria/chemistry* ; Metals, Heavy/analysis* ; Plant Preparations/chemistry* ; Plants, Edible/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Risk Assessment

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermented Laminaria japonica (FL), a type sea tangle used as a functional food ingredient, has been reported to possess cognitive improving properties that may aid in the treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the effects of FL on scopolamine (Sco)- and ethanol (EtOH)-induced hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, using the Passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. To examine the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroprotective effects, we analyzed acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, brain tissue expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and immunohistochemical analysis, in the hippocampus of mice, compared to current drug therapy intervention. Biochemical blood analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FL on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. 7 groups (n = 10) consisted of a control (CON), 3 Sco-induced dementia and 3 EtOH-induced dementia groups, with both dementia group types containing an untreated group (Sco and EtOH); a positive control, orally administered donepezil (Dpz) (4mg/kg) (Sco + Dpz and EtOH + Dpz); and an FL (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Sco + FL50 and EtOH + FL50), orally administered over the 4-week experimental period. RESULTS: FL50 significantly reduced EtOH-induced increase in AST and ALT levels. FL50 treatment reduced EtOH-impaired step-through latency time in the PA test, and Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia escape latency times in the MWM test. Moreover, anticholinergic effects of Sco and EtOH on the brain were reversed by FL50, through the attenuation of AChE activity and elevation of ACh concentration. FL50 elevated ERK1/2 protein expression and increased p-CREB (ser133) in hippocampus brain tissue, according to Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that FL may be considered an efficacious intervention for Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia, in terms of reversing cognitive impairment and neuroplastic dysfunction.
Acetylcholine ; Acetylcholinesterase ; Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Cholesterol ; Cognition Disorders* ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Dementia* ; Drug Therapy ; Ethanol ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Functional Food ; Hippocampus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminaria* ; Memory ; Mice* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuronal Plasticity* ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Triglycerides ; United Nations ; Water

PURPOSE: Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a species of brown macroalgae that is common along the coast of Japan and Korea. The present study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of different types of S. horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS: S. horneri was extracted by three different methods, hot water extraction, 50% ethanol extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Cell viability was then measured by MTT assay, while the production levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Griess assay, respectively. The expression and activation levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were examined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The three different S. horneri extracts were nontoxic against RAW 264.7 cells up to 50 µg/mL, among which treatment with hot water extract (HWE) of S. horneri significantly enhanced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner. Hot water extract of S. horneri also increased the expression level of iNOS, suggesting that up-regulation of iNOS expression by HWE of S. horneri was responsible for the induction of NO production. In addition, treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with HWE of S. horneri increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, the activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-κB was enhanced upon treatment with HWE of S. horneri, indicating that HWE of S. horneri activates macrophages to secrete TNF-α, IL-6 and NO and induces iNOS expression via activation of the NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings suggest that HWE of S. horneri possesses potential as a functional food with immunomodulatory activity.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Functional Food ; Interleukin-6 ; Japan ; Korea ; Macrophages* ; Necrosis ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Sargassum* ; Seaweed ; Up-Regulation ; Water

PURPOSE: This study analyzed iodine intake by establishing an iodine database of general Korean foods eaten by Korean adults based on the data from the 1998 ~ 2014 KNHANES (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). METHODS: Data on 56,818 subjects aged 19 years and older were obtained from health behavior interviews and a 24-hour dietary recall survey. Iodine intake of subjects was analyzed according to general characteristics, dietary lifestyle, food groups, and cooking method. RESULTS: An iodine database was established for 312 food items. The mean iodine intake of Korean adults decreased from 641.6 μg in 1998 to 236.2 μg in 2014 per day. Iodine intake of women was higher than that of men. For age distribution, those aged 30 ~ 49 years constituted more than 39 ~ 46% of subjects by survey year. Regarding iodine intake according to dietary lifestyle, the highest iodine intake was 29.4 ~ 34.4% for lunch while that of breakfast decreased. The highest iodine contribution by food group was seaweed such as kelp, sea mustard, and laver. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that iodine intake of Korean adults has been decreasing, and iodine intake is associated with the prevalence of thyroid disease. This study provides basic data for the estimation of iodine intake in Korean adults.
Adult* ; Age Distribution ; Breakfast ; Cooking ; Female ; Functional Food ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Kelp ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Lunch ; Male ; Methods ; Mustard Plant ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Prevalence ; Seaweed ; Thyroid Diseases