Journal of Environmental Biology

Effects of g-irradiation on the color and biological activity of

ethanol extracts of the brown seaweed Ecklonia cava

Jae-Suk Choi¹, Bo-Bae Lee¹, Kee Hun Do¹, Hee-Jung Bae¹, Jae Hak Sohn², Kwang Keun Cho³ and In Soon Choi^{1, 4*}

¹RIS Center, Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Silla University, Busan-617 736, Republic of Korea

²Department of Biofood Materials, Silla University, Sasang-gu, Busan-617 736, Republic of Korea

³Department of Animal Resources Technology, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology,

150 Chilam-dong, Jinju, Gyeongnam-660 758, Republic of Korea

⁴Department of Biological Science, Silla University, Busan-617 736, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ischoi@silla.ac.kr

 Publication Data

Paper received:

20 June 2012

Revised received:

18 December 2012

Re-revised received:

01 May 2013

Accepted:

03 June 2013

Abstract

This study examined the effect of g-irradiation on the biological and physical characteristics of brown seaweed, Ecklonia cava ethanol extracts, with the goal of improving their industrial applications. Samples were irradiated with Co⁶⁰ g rays at doses of 1?30 kGy, after which their color was evaluated. In addition, their antioxidant properties, DPPH radical scavenging activity, inhibition of NO synthesis, and anti-Propionibacterium acnes activity were investigated. The results showed that the Hunter color L value increased with irradiation in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in extracts that were lighter than the non-irradiated samples, while the Hunter color a and b values decreased with irradiation. Irradiation treatment did not alter the antimicrobial activity, rather it decreased the antioxidant properties and DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibited NO synthesis. In the safety test of irradiated E. cava extracts, acute toxicity test using mice and a cytotoxicity assay on the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 suggested that irradiated E. cava extracts can be safely used by humans at moderate doses. In conclusion, g-irradiation lightened the color of E. cava ethanol extracts, lessening its limitations for use as a raw material in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, without adversely affecting its biological activity.

 Key words

Acne vulgaris, Cosmetics, Ecklonia cava, Seaweed, g-irradiation,

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