The anti-inflammatory effect of alginate oligosaccharides on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was investigated at different time points (0-60 h). The alginate oligosaccharides were produced by an alginate-degrading enzyme from Shewanella oneidensis PKA1008. The alginate oligosaccharides decreased the production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6] in a dose-dependent manner. The alginate oligosaccharides showed peak anti-inflammatory activity after 36 h of incubation; at that time point, reduced protein expression of NF-κB p65, iNOS, and COX-2 was detected. Furthermore, the alginate oligosaccharide treatment reduced the formation of ear edema at 36 h compared to samples examined at 0 h when the oligosaccharides were administered at 50 and 250 mg/kg body weight, as well as dermal thickness and mast cell numbers in a histological analysis. These results suggest that alginate oligosaccharides are a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

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An alginate degrading enzyme from the Vibrio crassostreae PKA 1002 strain was used to hydrolyze the water extract of Sargassum thunbergii. To obtain the optimum degrading conditions for the S. thunbergii water extract, the mixture of the water extract and enzyme was incubated at 30 o C for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, and its alginate degrading ability was measured by reducing sugar and viscosity. A temperature of 30 o C for a period of 6 h was found to be the optimal condition for the enhancement of the alginate's degrading ability. The pH of the enzymatic hydrolysate was not significantly different from that of the water extract. Overall lightness decreased, but redness and yellowness increased after enzymatic hydrolysis. Total phenolic compounds did not differ between the water extract and the enzymatic hydrolysate. DPPH radical scavenging activity and the reducing power of the enzymatic hydrolysate were lower than those of the water extract. However, the chelating effect of the enzymatic hydrolysate (80.08% at 5 mg/ml) was higher than that of the water extract (62.29%). These results indicate that the enzymatic hydrolysate possesses an anti-oxidant activity by way of the action of the chelating effect.

The anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract of Undaria pinnatifida root (UPREE) were investigated using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells by measuring the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β, and cell proliferation. We found that NO levels were reduced by 34% at 100 μg/mL. Moreover, the production of IL-6 and TNF-α was suppressed by the UPREE treatment. In particular, the IL-6 production was inhibited by more than 30% at 100 μg/mL UPREE. The proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells was measured by MTT assay, and we found no cytotoxicity in those cells treated with UPREE compared to the control. Our results suggest that UPREE shows promise as a therapeutic anti-inflammatory treatment.

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