Pukyong National University

“If you want to take your brain health, please enjoy 'Ecklonia stolonifera' ”
The first time clarified the effects of prevention and treatment of degenerative neurological diseases of Ecklonia stolonifera extract.

△ Professor Choi and researchers take a group photo shoot in the food hygiene laboratory. Ⓒ Photo Lee Sung-jae (PR team)

Ecklonia stolonifera, a sea algae (seaweed), has been shown to be effective in preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Ecklonia stolonifera, belongs to seaweed family, is a seaweed that has a soft texture and a bittersweet taste and is enjoyed in winter by wrapping and seasoning.

The professor Choi Jae-soo of the Pukyong National University in Busan has discovered for the first time the fact that the Eckol component of Ecklonia stolonifera increases the concentration of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain's neural synapses, and its mechanism of action. Ecklonia stolonifera Eckol has emerged as a new therapeutic agent for degenerative neurological diseases, since degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease are caused by lowered dopamine concentration.

The research team applied the patent for the composition for the prevention or treatment of degenerative neurological diseases containing Eckol in the name of Pukyong National University.

Phenolic compounds such as Eckol have been known to play an important role in protecting seaweed from excessive UV rays as an important constituent of the cell wall of brown algae such as Ecklonia stolonifera.

Experimental results showed that the Eckol component increased the activity of the dopamine D3 receptor by 53.1 % and the activity of the dopamine D4 receptor by 54.7 %, acting as an agonist of the D3 and D4 receptors associated with degenerative neurological diseases at the concentration of 50 micromolar (μM).

In particular, the team first studied the molecular mechanism by which Eckol was activated by binding or reacting at any part in the molecular structure of dopamine D3 and D4 receptors through computer simulation (In Silico Docking). The 346th residue of phenylalanine in the dopamine receptor structure further stabilizes the binding with Eckol.

The professor Choi said, "The existing degenerative neurological disease treatment is a chemical synthesis, but the Eckol is significant because it is the first remedial agent extracted from Ecklonia stolonifera as a natural substance."

In a recent issue of the journal <Marine Drugs>, a global Swiss journal of marine life science, a paper on the results of the study ('Eckol as a potential therapeutic against neurodegenerative diseases targeting dopamine D3 / D4 receptors') has been published. <Pukyong Today>


△ A molecular model of Eckol