Kazutosi Nisizawa

The main seaweed foods in Japan

The ancient inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago seem to have eaten seaweeds. In fact, remains of marine algae such as Eisenia and Sargassum are often found mixed with shells and fish bones in relics of aborigines of the Jomon-pattern (BC 300–6000) and Yayoi-pattern eras (BC 300–AD 400) in Japanese prehistory.

Antitumor activity of marine algae

Powdered tissue from 46 species of air-dried marine algae (four green, 21 brown and 21 red algae) were screened for antitumor activity. Significant activity against Ehrlich carcinoma was found in the brown algae Scytosiphon lomentaria (69.8% inhibition), Lessonia nigrescens (60.0%), Laminaria japonica (57.6%), Sargassum ringgoldianum (46.5%), the red algae Porphyra yezoensis (53.2%) and Eucheuma gelatinae (52.1%) and the green alga Enteromorpha prolifera (51.7%). Five brown and four red algae showed appreciable antitumor activity against Meth-A fibrosarcoma. To identify specific molecules with antitumor activity, 15 kinds of polysaccharide preparations of seaweed origin and 24 kinds of lipid fractions extracted from various seaweeds were tested. Appreciable inhibition of Ehrlich carcinoma was found for fucoidan preparations from Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum ringgoldianum, for carrageenans and for porphyran. Several glycolipid and phospholipid fractions from brown and red algae were effective against Meth-A fibrosarcoma.

Distribution of a 334 UV-Absorbing-Substance in Algae, with Special Regard of its Possible Physiological Roles

A survcy on the existence oia 334 nrn UV-absorbing substancc in algac H S been performcd for 2 species ot l he Cyunophyta,45 spccies of thc Rhodophyta, 13 species of the Phaeophyta and 10 species of the Chlorophyll Ι ΐ was tound that eithcr the substance seeming to bc this compound or similar compounds having absorption bands in closc proximity to it are existent in all algae tested, and that these UV-absorbing substances secm to have sornc physiological relationships with Chlorophylls and other pigments and ihe depth of the individual algat habitats.

Monthly changes in the content of fucans, their constituent sugars and sulphate in cultured Laminaria japonica

Crude fucan was extracted monthly from makonbu, Laminaria japonica Areschoug, cultured from April to October at a southern site of the Hokkaido bay. The crude fucan yield tended to gradually increase from April to September, and rose markedly in October when spore formation was over. The fucans were fractionated on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 into three acidic components, A, B and C. In all the monthly extracts, fraction C was the largest. It was entirely free of laminaran and alginate, as was fraction B. Several sugars such as mannose and glucuronic acid, were identified in fraction C beside a large amount of fucose and sulphate. Only the proportion of the latter two constituents continued to increase as the alga matured to reach twice or even more than three times as much as all the other sugars in the September extract.

Seasonal variation in the lipid content of culturedLaminaria japonica: fatty acids, sterols, β-carotene and tocopherol

Seasonal variation in major lipid constituents of nutritional importance in culturedLaminaria japonica Aresch., such as fatty acids, sterols, β-carotene and tocopherol, were investigated from December to October, the growing season. The total and saturated fatty acid contents were minimal in midsummer. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids gradually increased from late summer to autumn. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content (PUFA, (n-6) family) was maximal during warm months, while (n-3) PUFAs were most abundant during the cold months when algal thalli were very young, and decreased gradually toward October when sori had developed. Fucosterol content was maximum from February to June, but decreased steeply by nearly a half toward October, when 24-methylene cholesterol was highest although much less than fucosterol. The β-carotene and tocopherol contents were maximal from July to September and slight during the winter.

Content of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in polar lipids from Gracilaria (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)

Fatty acid composition, especially the distribution of eicosapolyenoic acids in several species of Gracilaria, was analyzed in relation to their taxonomy. The species have been grouped into two types based on distribution of these polyenoic acids: Type 1, which contains palmitic, oleic and arachidonic acids as the major components, and Type II, which contains eicosapentaenoic acid in addition to Type I fatty acids. Octadecapolyenoic acids were detected only in trace amounts in each Type. A similar remarkable difference also was observed in the fatty acid composition of lipid classes. The major component of eicosapolyenoic acids in Type I was arachidonic acid in all lipid classes. In Type II, eicosapentaenoic acid was the major component in monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, digalactosyl diacylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids were contained in large amounts in Type II phosphatidylcholine. Grouping of Gracilaria species into Type I and Type II is not entirely consistent with morphological and taxonomic features, but the difference in fatty acid composition is likely due to genetic rather than to environmental factors.

Physiological Roles of a Substance 334 in Algae

Effects of light intensity, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients on thc

Exocellulase of Irpex lacteus (Polyporus tulipiferae)

Publisher Summary The cellulase system of Irpex lacteus ( Polyporus tulipiferae ) includes various kinds of endocellulases of different randomness and at least one kind of exocellulase. The exocellulase may be a 1,4-β-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase based on its substrate specificity. The fungus seems to attack native cellulose to obtain reducing sugars in vivo , using the synergistic action of the different kinds of cellulases. This chapter describes assay method that are based on measurements such as (1) the increase in reducing power formed during reaction and (2) the decrease in the average degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose. Both methods for measuring these changes should be performed in parallel to detect the exocellulase activity. The chapter describes the reducing sugar method in detail. It concludes with a discussion on the properties and purification procedure of the enzyme.

The utilization of wakame ( Undaria pinnatifida ) in Japan and manufacture of ‘haiboshi wakame’ and some of its biochemical and physical properties

Wakame, Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, is a brown alga found along most parts of the Japanese coasts influenced by warm currents. It generally grows on the rocks between the low tide level and 15 m deep, and develops to nearly 2 m at maturity. Differences between the two morphological forms, f. typica Yendo (inner-bay type, southern type) and f. distans (outer-bay type, northern type), seem to be caused by genetic and environmental factors (Saito, 1962; Kito, et al 1981).

Isolation and Physico-chemical Properties of a Substance 334 from the Red Alga, Porphyra yezoensis Ueda

A novel UV-absorbing substance 334 was isolated in a crystalline form from a red algü, Porphyra yezoensis It was found to be a peptidal compound and to contain no aromaticy such äs bcnzenc, purine and pyrimidine origin, Elementary analysis indicated its chemical composition to be 42.98 % C, 6.22% H, 7 . 7 1 % N, 34.09% O and 9.0 % Na. Degradative studies indicated its peptidal portion to be glycinc and thrconine cxist ing in <jn equimolar ratio amounting to 27 % of the compound, Basing on IR, high resolution proton N M R , 1 C-NMR and mass sp^ctroscopy, its moleculai weight was calculated to be 298 with a chemical formula of C v , H ] 9 O 6 N 2 N a , Tfu· substance 334 has an excitation and fluorescence action spectra at 368 and 430 nm, respcctivcly. Further, it proccs^cs oxidation and reduction capacities, and the absorption maximum of the oxidized form was found at 334 nm and that of reducod form was at a wavelength shifted only very sljghtly toward longerside.