Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in oysters from the southern coast of Korea: assessment of potential risk to human health.

From 2009 to 2013, 80 oyster and 16 seawater samples were collected from the southern coast of Korea, including designated shellfish growing areas for export. The concentrations and bioaccumulation of heavy metals were determined, and a potential risk assessment was conducted to evaluate their hazards towards human consumption. The cadmium (Cd) concentration in oysters was the highest of three hazardous metals, including Cd, lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg), however, below the standards set by various countries.

Dioxinodehydroeckol inhibits melanin synthesis through PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-treated B16F10 cells.

Antimelanogenic activity has previously been reported in ethyl acetate fraction of Ecklonia stolonifera. In this study, using the isolated dioxinodehydroeckol from the fraction, we sought to investigate an antimelanogenic signalling pathway in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. Treatment with dioxinodehydroeckol inhibited the cellular melanin contents and expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related proteins TRP-1 and TRP-2.

Triple inhibitory activity of Cliona celata against TNF-α-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 production via downregulated NF-κB and AP-1, enzyme activity, and migration potential.

Extracellular matrix-degrading protease, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), is known to be involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)'s aberrant proliferation and movement in atherosclerotic lesions. During screening of the MMP-9-inhibitory compounds from marine animal resources, we have found that the ethyl acetate extract from Cliona celata (ECC) effectively inhibits the SMC-derived MMP-9 enzyme activity and gene expression. In addition, the ECC effectively repressed the migration potential of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC).

A novel function of benzyl isothiocyanate in vascular smooth muscle cells: the role of ERK1/2, cell cycle regulation, and matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Dietary isothiocyanates (ITCs) have shown protective effects against certain chemically induced cancers in animal models. These inhibitory effects are associated with reduced levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activity and the arrest of the G(1) cell cycle. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) treatment down-regulates cyclins and CDKs and up-regulates the expression of the CDK inhibitor p21, but up-regulation of p27 or p53 was not detected.