Morphology and phylogenetic position of a freshwater Prasiola species (Prasiolales, Chlorophyta) in Korea

Moon Sook Kim,Man-Sig Jun,Cho A Kim,Jihae Yoon,Jin Hee Kim,Ga Youn Cho 한국조류학회I 2015 ALGAE Vol.30 No.3

The genus of leafy green algae, Prasiola Meneghini, includes marine, terrestrial, and freshwater species. A total of 11 species and one variety have been identified in China, Korea, and Japan. In Korea, Prasiola formosana var. coreana has been reported in Muncheon, North Korea, while a different type of Prasiola species has been reported in South Korea. The South Korean species has been found growing along a small stream originating from Chodanggul Cave, a limestone cave in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. Here, we revised the morphological characteristics of the South Korean Prasiola species and analyzed plastid rbcL, psaB, and tufA genes to clarify its identity. Although the external and anatomical morphologies varied among individuals, our results were very similar to previous reports. Plastid three genes sequences of the South Korean specimens were identical to those of P. japonica collected from Japan as well as to published sequences of P. yunnanica from China. A short rbcL-3P sequence (196 bp) from P. formosana var. coreana, which was identified in the type specimen, was also identical to a sequence from P. japonica. These Prasiola species and variety from Korea, Japan, and China are all distributed in areas characterized by limestone bedrock. Based on morphological, phylogenetic, and distributional features, the South Korean Prasiola species is regarded herein as P. japonica. Here, we also propose to synonymize P. formosana var. coreana and P. yunnanica with P. japonica.

Morphology and phylogenetic position of a freshwater Prasiola species (Prasiolales, Chlorophyta) in Korea

Kim, Moon Sook,Jun, Man-Sig,Kim, Cho A,Yoon, Jihae,Kim, Jin Hee,Cho, Ga Youn The Korean Society of Phycology 2015 ALGAE Vol.30 No.3

The genus of leafy green algae, Prasiola Meneghini, includes marine, terrestrial, and freshwater species. A total of 11 species and one variety have been identified in China, Korea, and Japan. In Korea, Prasiola formosana var. coreana has been reported in Muncheon, North Korea, while a different type of Prasiola species has been reported in South Korea. The South Korean species has been found growing along a small stream originating from Chodanggul Cave, a limestone cave in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. Here, we revised the morphological characteristics of the South Korean Prasiola species and analyzed plastid rbcL, psaB, and tufA genes to clarify its identity. Although the external and anatomical morphologies varied among individuals, our results were very similar to previous reports. Plastid three genes sequences of the South Korean specimens were identical to those of P. japonica collected from Japan as well as to published sequences of P. yunnanica from China. A short rbcL-3P sequence (196 bp) from P. formosana var. coreana, which was identified in the type specimen, was also identical to a sequence from P. japonica. These Prasiola species and variety from Korea, Japan, and China are all distributed in areas characterized by limestone bedrock. Based on morphological, phylogenetic, and distributional features, the South Korean Prasiola species is regarded herein as P. japonica. Here, we also propose to synonymize P. formosana var. coreana and P. yunnanica with P. japonica.

Oxidative Stress-Protective and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Loliolide and Ethanol Extract from Fresh Water Green Algae, <i>Prasiola japonica</i>

Park, Sang Hee,Choi, Eunju,Kim, Sunggyu,Kim, Dong Sam,Kim, Ji Hyeon,Chang, SeokGu,Choi, Jae Seok,Park, Kyung Ja,Roh, Kyung-Baeg,Lee, Jongsung,Yoo, Byong Chul,Cho, Jae Youl MDPI 2018 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES Vol.19 No.9

<P>Loliolide is a monoterpenoid hydroxylactone found in many algae, including fresh water green algae, <I>Prasiola japonica</I>. To date, loliolide and compounds in <I>P. japonica</I> have not been studied systematically with respect to skin pharmacology. In this study, we investigated oxidative stress-protective and anti-melanogenic effects of loliolide and <I>P. japonica</I> ethanol extract (Pj-EE), known to contain loliolide, in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and mouse melanoma (B16F10) cells. Loliolide suppressed the transcription of genes encoding matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS), which were induced in HaCaT cells by hydrogen peroxide (H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB>) treatment. Loliolide and Pj-EE not only reduced the melanin secretion and content in B16F10 cells but also increased the expression of the antioxidant proteins nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in HaCaT cells subjected to H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> treatment. Furthermore, loliolide and Pj-EE decreased expression of the anti-melanogenic protein microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase in B16F10 cells subjected to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) treatment. Our findings demonstrate that loliolide and Pj-EE have antioxidant and anti-melanogenic effects on skin.</P>

Screening of functional components derived from fresh water laver, Prasiola japonica, and its pharmacological properties

Seong Soo Joo, Da Woom Seo, Hee Jung Kim, Su Kil Jang, Mansig Jun 충북대학교 동물의학연구소 2013 Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research Vol.14 No.2

The aim of the current study was to analyze the active ingredients and to screen the pharmacological properties of freshwater laver, Prasiola japonica, the only species grown in Korea. According to results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, components from P. japonica were more diverse than those from sea laver. Of particular interest, our results indicated that ethanol extract of P. japonica (PJE) contained loliolide, sorbitol, mannitol, and alverine, which were known to have an anti-oxidant, anti-oral microbial, osmotic diuresis, and smooth muscle relaxant, respectively. In addition, five solvent fractions of PJE (water, butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hexane) significantly inhibited the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and a higher amount (>100 μg/mL) of chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hexane fraction were considered to play a specific role in cancer cell death. PJE and its solvent fractions found to be effective scavengers of free radicals, particularly, hydroxyl radicals. Glucose uptake in L6 myoblast cell line that stably expresses the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) proteins was also remarkably enhanced upon treatment with solvent fractions, remarkably chloroform fraction. Taken together, we concluded that P. japonica may have potent pharmacological properties and thus contribute to development of novel natural candidates for various disease targets.

Screening of functional components derived from fresh water laver, Prasiola japonica, and its pharmacological properties

서다움,김희정,장수길,전만식,주성수 충북대학교 동물의학연구소 2013 Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research Vol.14 No.2

The aim of the current study was to analyze the active ingredients and to screen the pharmacological properties of freshwater laver, Prasiola japonica, the only species grown in Korea. According to results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, components from P. japonica were more diverse than those from sea laver. Of particular interest, our results indicated that ethanol extract of P. japonica (PJE) contained loliolide, sorbitol, mannitol, and alverine, which were known to have an anti-oxidant, anti-oral microbial, osmotic diuresis, and smooth muscle relaxant, respectively. In addition, five solvent fractions of PJE (water, butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hexane) significantly inhibited the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and a higher amount (>100 μg/mL) of chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hexane fraction were considered to play a specific role in cancer cell death. PJE and its solvent fractions found to be effective scavengers of free radicals, particularly, hydroxyl radicals. Glucose uptake in L6 myoblast cell line that stably expresses the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) proteins was also remarkably enhanced upon treatment with solvent fractions, remarkably chloroform fraction. Taken together, we concluded that P. japonica may have potent pharmacological properties and thus contribute to development of novel natural candidates for various disease targets.