Ecklonia Cava
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Ecklonia Cava is a brown seaweed with a rich polyphenolic content (this particular subset being known as eckols or phlorotannins) that confers anti-oxidant properties, it is being investigated for health properties.
Ecklonia Cava is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Ecklonia Cava is a type of seaweed which is known to be one of the highest sources of phloroglucinols, a type of antioxidant compound that appears to be unique to sea plants. The phloroglucinols appear to be very potent anti-oxidants, and these benefits have been noted after oral ingestion as well.
That being said, the potency of phloroglucinols being anti-oxidants seems to be a bit separate from the magnitude of benefit one gets from ingesting these compounds. Benefits have been noted on blood pressure, blood glucose, and inflammation but for the most part these are statistically sound but practically small benefits. The current human evidence is unconvincing for the most part, although these compounds and seaweed are undoubtedly "healthy" as a general statement.
Other effects that seem interesting for Ecklonia Cava are an apparently anti-allergic potential that is not highly explored, and there appears to be some anti-cancer properties as well (mostly tested in regards to melanoma). Topical application of Ecklonia is one of a few compounds that can enhance hair growth, and it appears to be novel in the sense that it both inhibits androgen-induced hair loss and also directly enhances hair growth (so it, by itself, appears to be some form of combination therapy).
Ecklonia Cava should not be confused with:
- Kava (not related to Ecklonia Cava)
Ecklonia Cava products appear to benefit the body in relatively low doses, with weak health benefits on blood pressure and glucose in the range of 100mg; higher doses (which would be expected when consuming the seaweed itself as a food product) confer dose-dependent responses.
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1.^Ahn G, Park E, Lee WW, Hyun JW, Lee KW, Shin T, Jeon YJ, Jee YEnzymatic extract from Ecklonia cava induces the activation of lymphocytes by IL-2 production through the classical NF-κB pathwayMar Biotechnol (NY).(2011 Feb)
2.^Wijesekara I, Yoon NY, Kim SKPhlorotannins from Ecklonia cava (Phaeophyceae): biological activities and potential health benefitsBiofactors.(2010 Nov-Dec)
3.^Lee DH, Park MY, Shim BJ, Youn HJ, Hwang HJ, Shin HC, Jeon HKEffects of Ecklonia cava Polyphenol in Individuals with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot StudyJ Med Food.(2012 Nov)
4.^Yoon NY, Eom TK, Kim MM, Kim SKInhibitory effect of phlorotannins isolated from Ecklonia cava on mushroom tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in mouse B16F10 melanoma cellsJ Agric Food Chem.(2009 May 27)
5.^Li Y, Qian ZJ, Ryu B, Lee SH, Kim MM, Kim SKChemical components and its antioxidant properties in vitro: an edible marine brown alga, Ecklonia cavaBioorg Med Chem.(2009 Mar 1)
6.^Kang SM, Lee SH, Heo SJ, Kim KN, Jeon YJEvaluation of antioxidant properties of a new compound, pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6'-bieckol isolated from brown algae, Ecklonia cavaNutr Res Pract.(2011 Dec)
7.^Jang J, Ye BR, Heo SJ, Oh C, Kang DH, Kim JH, Affan A, Yoon KT, Choi YU, Park SC, Han S, Qian ZJ, Jung WK, Choi IWPhoto-oxidative stress by ultraviolet-B radiation and antioxidative defense of eckstolonol in human keratinocytesEnviron Toxicol Pharmacol.(2012 Nov)
8.^Kong CS, Kim JA, Ahn BN, Vo TS, Yoon NY, Kim SK1-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenoxy)-7-(2'',4'',6-trihydroxyphenoxy)-2,4,9-trihydroxydibenzo-1,4-dioxin inhibits adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblastsMar Biotechnol (NY).(2010 Jun)
9.^Kim SK, Kong CSAnti-adipogenic effect of dioxinodehydroeckol via AMPK activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytesChem Biol Interact.(2010 Jun 7)
10.^Lee SH, Ko CI, Jee Y, Jeong Y, Kim M, Kim JS, Jeon YJAnti-inflammatory effect of fucoidan extracted from Ecklonia cava in zebrafish modelCarbohydr Polym.(2013 Jan 30)
11.^Ahn G, Hwang I, Park E, Kim J, Jeon YJ, Lee J, Park JW, Jee YImmunomodulatory effects of an enzymatic extract from Ecklonia cava on murine splenocytesMar Biotechnol (NY).(2008 May-Jun)
12.^Kang K, Hwang HJ, Hong DH, Park Y, Kim SH, Lee BH, Shin HCAntioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of ventol, a phlorotannin-rich natural agent derived from Ecklonia cava, and its effect on proteoglycan degradation in cartilage explant cultureRes Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol.(2004)
13.^Lee WW, Ahn G, Arachchillage JP, Kim YM, Kim SK, Lee BJ, Jeon YJA polysaccharide isolated from Ecklonia cava fermented by Lactobacillus brevis inhibits the inflammatory response by suppressing the activation of nuclear factor-κB in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophagesJ Med Food.(2011 Dec)
15.^Kang IJ, Jeon YE, Yin XF, Nam JS, You SG, Hong MS, Jang BG, Kim MJButanol extract of Ecklonia cava prevents production and aggregation of beta-amyloid, and reduces beta-amyloid mediated neuronal deathFood Chem Toxicol.(2011 Sep)
16.^Kang IJ, Jang BG, In S, Choi B, Kim M, Kim MJPhlorotannin-rich Ecklonia cava reduces the production of beta-amyloid by modulating alpha- and gamma-secretase expression and activityNeurotoxicology.(2012 Oct 4)
17.^Myung CS, Shin HC, Bao HY, Yeo SJ, Lee BH, Kang JSImprovement of memory by dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol in ethanol-treated mice: possible involvement of the inhibition of acetylcholinesteraseArch Pharm Res.(2005 Jun)
18.^Kim JH, Lee NS, Jeong YG, Lee JH, Kim EJ, Han SYProtective efficacy of an Ecklonia cava extract used to treat transient focal ischemia of the rat brainAnat Cell Biol.(2012 Jun)
19.^Kang SM, Cha SH, Ko JY, Kang MC, Kim D, Heo SJ, Kim JS, Heu MS, Kim YT, Jung WK, Jeon YJNeuroprotective effects of phlorotannins isolated from a brown alga, Ecklonia cava, against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in murine hippocampal HT22 cellsEnviron Toxicol Pharmacol.(2012 Jul)
20.^Jung WK, Heo SJ, Jeon YJ, Lee CM, Park YM, Byun HG, Choi YH, Park SG, Choi IWInhibitory effects and molecular mechanism of dieckol isolated from marine brown alga on COX-2 and iNOS in microglial cellsJ Agric Food Chem.(2009 May 27)
21.^Jung WK, Ahn YW, Lee SH, Choi YH, Kim SK, Yea SS, Choi I, Park SG, Seo SK, Lee SW, Choi IWEcklonia cava ethanolic extracts inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in BV2 microglia via the MAP kinase and NF-kappaB pathwaysFood Chem Toxicol.(2009 Feb)
22.^Cho S, Han D, Kim SB, Yoon M, Yang H, Jin YH, Jo J, Yong H, Lee SH, Jeon YJ, Shimizu MDepressive effects on the central nervous system and underlying mechanism of the enzymatic extract and its phlorotannin-rich fraction from Ecklonia cava edible brown seaweedBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2012)
23.^Wijesinghe WA, Ko SC, Jeon YJEffect of phlorotannins isolated from Ecklonia cava on angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activityNutr Res Pract.(2011 Apr)
24.^Shin HC, Kim SH, Park Y, Lee BH, Hwang HJEffects of 12-week oral supplementation of Ecklonia cava polyphenols on anthropometric and blood lipid parameters in overweight Korean individuals: a double-blind randomized clinical trialPhytother Res.(2012 Mar)
25.^Kim TH, Bae JSEcklonia cava extracts inhibit lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory responses in human endothelial cellsFood Chem Toxicol.(2010 Jun)
26.^Lee SH, Heo SJ, Hwang JY, Han JS, Jeon YJProtective effects of enzymatic digest from Ecklonia cava against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cellsJ Sci Food Agric.(2010 Jan 30)
27.^Lee SH, Han JS, Heo SJ, Hwang JY, Jeon YJProtective effects of dieckol isolated from Ecklonia cava against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cellsToxicol In Vitro.(2010 Mar)
28.^Kim HKEcklonia cava Inhibits Glucose Absorption and Stimulates Insulin Secretion in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic MiceEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
29.^Lee SH, Park MH, Heo SJ, Kang SM, Ko SC, Han JS, Jeon YJDieckol isolated from Ecklonia cava inhibits alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase in vitro and alleviates postprandial hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic miceFood Chem Toxicol.(2010 Oct)
30.^Kim MJ, Kim HKInsulinotrophic and hypolipidemic effects of Ecklonia cava in streptozotocin-induced diabetic miceAsian Pac J Trop Med.(2012 May)
31.^Lee SH, Park MH, Park SJ, Kim J, Kim YT, Oh MC, Jeong Y, Kim M, Han JS, Jeon YJBioactive compounds extracted from Ecklonia cava by using enzymatic hydrolysis protects high glucose-induced damage in INS-1 pancreatic β-cellsAppl Biochem Biotechnol.(2012 Aug)
32.^Lee SH, Min KH, Han JS, Lee DH, Park DB, Jung WK, Park PJ, Jeon BT, Kim SK, Jeon YJEffects of brown alga, Ecklonia cava on glucose and lipid metabolism in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitusFood Chem Toxicol.(2012 Mar)
33.^Park EY, Kim EH, Kim MH, Seo YW, Lee JI, Jun HSPolyphenol-Rich Fraction of Brown Alga Ecklonia cava Collected from Gijang, Korea, Reduces Obesity and Glucose Levels in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese MiceEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
34.^Yang YI, Shin HC, Kim SH, Park WY, Lee KT, Choi JH6,6'-Bieckol, isolated from marine alga Ecklonia cava, suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide and PGE₂ production and inflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages: the inhibition of NFκBInt Immunopharmacol.(2012 Mar)
35.^Park SJ, Ahn G, Lee NH, Park JW, Jeon YJ, Jee YPhloroglucinol (PG) purified from Ecklonia cava attenuates radiation-induced apoptosis in blood lymphocytes and splenocytesFood Chem Toxicol.(2011 Sep)
36.^Park E, Ahn G, Yun JS, Kim MJ, Bing SJ, Kim DS, Lee J, Lee NH, Park JW, Jee YDieckol rescues mice from lethal irradiation by accelerating hemopoiesis and curtailing immunosuppressionInt J Radiat Biol.(2010 Oct)
37.^Kang KA, Zhang R, Chae S, Lee SJ, Kim J, Kim J, Jeong J, Lee J, Shin T, Lee NH, Hyun JWPhloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) protects against ionizing radiation-induced cell damage through inhibition of oxidative stress in vitro and in vivoChem Biol Interact.(2010 May 14)
38.^Shim SY, Quang-To L, Lee SH, Kim SKEcklonia cava extract suppresses the high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI expressionFood Chem Toxicol.(2009 Mar)
39.^Kim SK, Lee DY, Jung WK, Kim JH, Choi I, Park SG, Seo SK, Lee SW, Lee CM, Yea SS, Choi YH, Choi IWEffects of Ecklonia cava ethanolic extracts on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a murine asthma model: role of suppressor of cytokine signalingBiomed Pharmacother.(2008 Jun)
40.^Takahashi M, Satake N, Yamashita H, Tamura A, Sasaki M, Matsui-Yuasa I, Tabuchi M, Akahoshi Y, Terada M, Kojima-Yuasa AEcklonia cava polyphenol protects the liver against ethanol-induced injury in ratsBiochim Biophys Acta.(2012 Jul)
41.^Kim KC, Kang KA, Zhang R, Piao MJ, Kim GY, Kang MY, Lee SJ, Lee NH, Surh YJ, Hyun JWUp-regulation of Nrf2-mediated heme oxygenase-1 expression by eckol, a phlorotannin compound, through activation of Erk and PI3K/AktInt J Biochem Cell Biol.(2010 Feb)
42.^Kang KA, Lee KH, Park JW, Lee NH, Na HK, Surh YJ, You HJ, Chung MH, Hyun JWTriphlorethol-A induces heme oxygenase-1 via activation of ERK and NF-E2 related factor 2 transcription factorFEBS Lett.(2007 May 15)
43.^Park SJ, Kim YT, Jeon YJAntioxidant dieckol downregulates the Rac1/ROS signaling pathway and inhibits Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)-family verprolin-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2)-mediated invasive migration of B16 mouse melanoma cellsMol Cells.(2012 Apr)
44.^Zhang R, Lee IK, Kang KA, Piao MJ, Kim KC, Kim BJ, Lee NH, Choi JY, Choi J, Hyun JWCytoprotective effects of triphlorethol-A against formaldehyde-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis: role of mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent pathwayJ Toxicol Environ Health A.(2010)
45.^Shin HC, Hwang HJ, Kang KJ, Lee BHAn antioxidative and antiinflammatory agent for potential treatment of osteoarthritis from Ecklonia cavaArch Pharm Res.(2006 Feb)
46.^Ryu B, Li Y, Qian ZJ, Kim MM, Kim SKDifferentiation of human osteosarcoma cells by isolated phlorotannins is subtly linked to COX-2, iNOS, MMPs, and MAPK signaling: implication for chronic articular diseaseChem Biol Interact.(2009 May 15)
47.^Kang C, Jin YB, Lee H, Cha M, Sohn ET, Moon J, Park C, Chun S, Jung ES, Hong JS, Kim SB, Kim JS, Kim EBrown alga Ecklonia cava attenuates type 1 diabetes by activating AMPK and Akt signaling pathwaysFood Chem Toxicol.(2010 Feb)
48.^Oh JK, Shin YO, Yoon JH, Kim SH, Shin HC, Hwang HJEffect of supplementation with Ecklonia cava polyphenol on endurance performance of college studentsInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2010 Feb)
49.^Kang MC, Ahn G, Yang X, Kim KN, Kang SM, Lee SH, Ko SC, Ko JY, Kim D, Kim YT, Jee Y, Park SJ, Jeon YJHepatoprotective effects of dieckol-rich phlorotannins from Ecklonia cava, a brown seaweed, against ethanol induced liver damage in BALB/c miceFood Chem Toxicol.(2012 Jun)
50.^Yokogawa K, Matsui-Yuasa I, Tamura A, Terada M, Kojima-Yuasa AInhibitory effects of Ecklonia cava extract on high glucose-induced hepatic stellate cell activationMar Drugs.(2011 Dec)
51.^Kwon YH, Jung SY, Kim JW, Lee SH, Lee JH, Lee BY, Kwon SMPhloroglucinol inhibits the bioactivities of endothelial progenitor cells and suppresses tumor angiogenesis in LLC-tumor-bearing micePLoS One.(2012)
52.^Kim MM, Ta QV, Mendis E, Rajapakse N, Jung WK, Byun HG, Jeon YJ, Kim SKPhlorotannins in Ecklonia cava extract inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activityLife Sci.(2006 Sep 5)
53.^Zhang C, Li Y, Qian ZJ, Lee SH, Li YX, Kim SKDieckol from Ecklonia cava Regulates Invasion of Human Fibrosarcoma Cells and Modulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 Expression via NF-κB PathwayEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2011)
54.^Zhang C, Li Y, Shi X, Kim SKInhibition of the expression on MMP-2, 9 and morphological changes via human fibrosarcoma cell line by 6,6'-bieckol from marine alga Ecklonia cavaBMB Rep.(2010 Jan)
55.^Heo SJ, Ko SC, Cha SH, Kang DH, Park HS, Choi YU, Kim D, Jung WK, Jeon YJEffect of phlorotannins isolated from Ecklonia cava on melanogenesis and their protective effect against photo-oxidative stress induced by UV-B radiationToxicol In Vitro.(2009 Sep)
56.^Ushio-Fukai M, Alexander RWReactive oxygen species as mediators of angiogenesis signaling: role of NAD(P)H oxidaseMol Cell Biochem.(2004 Sep)
57.^Moldovan L, Moldovan NI, Sohn RH, Parikh SA, Goldschmidt-Clermont PJRedox changes of cultured endothelial cells and actin dynamicsCirc Res.(2000 Mar 17)
58.^Park SJ, Jeon YJDieckol from Ecklonia cava suppresses the migration and invasion of HT1080 cells by inhibiting the focal adhesion kinase pathway downstream of Rac1-ROS signalingMol Cells.(2012 Feb)
59.^Kong CS, Kim JA, Yoon NY, Kim SKInduction of apoptosis by phloroglucinol derivative from Ecklonia Cava in MCF-7 human breast cancer cellsFood Chem Toxicol.(2009 Jul)
60.^Kang JI, Kim SC, Kim MK, Boo HJ, Jeon YJ, Koh YS, Yoo ES, Kang SM, Kang HKEffect of Dieckol, a Component of Ecklonia cava, on the Promotion of Hair GrowthInt J Mol Sci.(2012)
61.^Cha SH, Ko CI, Kim D, Jeon YJProtective effects of phlorotannins against ultraviolet B radiation in zebrafish (Danio rerio)Vet Dermatol.(2012 Feb)
62.^Kang HS, Chung HY, Kim JY, Son BW, Jung HA, Choi JSInhibitory phlorotannins from the edible brown alga Ecklonia stolonifera on total reactive oxygen species (ROS) generationArch Pharm Res.(2004 Feb)
63.^Piao MJ, Lee NH, Chae S, Hyun JWEckol inhibits ultraviolet B-induced cell damage in human keratinocytes via a decrease in oxidative stressBiol Pharm Bull.(2012)
64.^Cha SH, Ko SC, Kim D, Jeon YJScreening of marine algae for potential tyrosinase inhibitor: those inhibitors reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in zebrafishJ Dermatol.(2011 Apr)
65.^Kang SM, Heo SJ, Kim KN, Lee SH, Yang HM, Kim AD, Jeon YJMolecular docking studies of a phlorotannin, dieckol isolated from Ecklonia cava with tyrosinase inhibitory activityBioorg Med Chem.(2012 Jan 1)
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