Immuno-enhancing effect of Codium fragile extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages

Codium fragile (CF) is a green seaweed that has been used in folk medicine to treat urinary tract disorders, intestinal bacteriosis, and dropsy. The CF is also used primarly as a seasoning to enhance the flavor of Kimchi, and in some areas it is consumed as a side dish. The CF has reported to have anti-coagulant, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activities. The purpose of this study was to analyze the immune-enhancing effect of aqueous extract of C. fragile (AECF) using RAW264.7 macrophages and splenocytes. The AECF induced the production of nitrite oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase at 1 mg/mL without cytotoxicity, and also gradually increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), determined by griess reagent, western blot, and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, AECF significantly induced the expression of immune-related enzymes, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemoattracted protein-1, which increase the production of immune cells, determined by mouse cytokine array, as determined by cytokine arrray. The AECF induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit from cytosol to the nucleus. Our findings indicate that C. fragile may have potential as a functional ingredinet for developing immune-enhancing supplement that properly maintiain the body's defense system.