https://examine.com/supplements/ecklonia-cava/#ref61 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. This page features 65 unique references to scientific papers. History Discussion Summary Things To Know How To Take Human Effect Matrix Scientific Research Citations Summary All Essential Benefits/Effects/Facts & Information 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). How to Take Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details 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. Confused about supplements? Free 5 day supplement course Human Effect Matrix The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects ecklonia cava has on your body, and how strong these effects are. Grade Level of Evidence Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies Uncontrolled or observational studies only Level of Magnitude Consistency of Evidence Outcome of effect research results Notes ? ? ? Blood Very High See May reduce blood glucose levels, Glucose Minor study not overly potent in doing so A possible reduction in blood Blood Very High See pressure in overweight persons Pressure Minor 2 studies with supplementation of ecklonia cava Very High See LDL-C Possible reductions in LDL-C Minor 2 studies Total Very High See A possible reduction in total Cholesterol Minor 2 studies cholesterol concentrations No significant influence on Very High See Triglycerides - triglycerides noted with ecklonia study cava Appears to reduce C-reactive C-Reactive Very High See protein, with the degree of Protein Notable study reduction being noted almost a halving Very High See No significant influence on HDL-C - study HDL-C detected Scientific Research Table of Contents: 1. 1 Sources and Summary 1. 1.1 Sources 2. 1.2 Composition 3. 1.3 Patents 2. 2 Neurology 1. 2.1 Alzheimer's 2. 2.2 Neuroprotection 3. 2.3 Sedation 3. 3 Cardiovascular Health 1. 3.1 Blood Pressure 2. 3.2 Lipoproteins 3. 3.3 Artherosclerosis 4. 4 Interactions with Glucose Metabolism 1. 4.1 Absorption 2. 4.2 Pancreas 3. 4.3 Interventions 5. 5 Interactions with Obesity 1. 5.1 Mechanisms 2. 5.2 Interventions 6. 6 Inflammation and Immunology 1. 6.1 Mechanisms 2. 6.2 Lymphocytes 7. 7 Interactions with Oxidation 1. 7.1 Mechanisms 8. 8 Cytology 1. 8.1 Mitochondria 9. 9 Joint and Skeletal Health 1. 9.1 Mechanisms 10. 10 Muscles and Performance 1. 10.1 Mechanisms 2. 10.2 Interventions 11. 11 Interactions with Organ Systems 1. 11.1 Liver 12. 12 Interactions with Cancer Metabolism 1. 12.1 Angiogenesis 2. 12.2 Melanoma 3. 12.3 Breast 13. 13 Interactions with Aesthetics 1. 13.1 Hair 2. 13.2 Skin 14. 14 Safety and Toxicology 1. 14.1 General 1Sources and Summary 1.1. Sources Ecklonia Cava (family Phaeophyceae) is a brown seaweed that had usage as a food product, similar to Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack), it is currently being explored for its health promoting properties due to its high Polyphenolic content of 18.3% dry weight.[1] Beyond the polyphenolics, carbohydrates consist of up to 44.9% of Ecklonia while protein is 28.2% by weight (with the remaining coming from an ash content of 7.5% and a lipid content of 1.2%).[1] They are mostly collected from Islands in the Jeju Province of Korea (highest concentration of Ecklonia Cava for subsequent sales) although they can be found in a variety of places.[2] 1.2. Composition Ecklonia Cava contains, in the polyphenolic (phlorotannin) fraction which constitutes up to 18.3% of Ecklonia dry weight:[1] Eckol, as well as both 2-phloroeckol[3] and 7-phloroeckol[4] at 1.19% Ecklonia by dry weight[5] Phloroglucinol, the simplest phlorotannin structure (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene)[4] Dieckol Phlorofucofuroeckol 6,6'-Bieckol at 1.28% Ecklonia dry weight,[5] 8,8'-Bieckol, and Pyrogallol- phloroglucinol-6,6'-bieckol[6] Eckstolonol[7] 2-O-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)- -bieckol[3] 1-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenoxy)-7-(2'',4'',6-trihydroxyphenoxy)-2,4,9-trihydroxydibenzo- 1,4-dioxin[8] Phlorotannin A,[3] phlorofucofuroeckol A,[5] and Fucodiphloroethol G[5] Dioxinodehydroeckol[4][9] Fucoidan,[10] a sulfated polysaccharide[11] Phlorotannins are a subclassification of polyphenolic compounds that are identified by dibenzo-1,4-dioxin backbone, and do not exist in terrestrial (land originating) plants;[12] Phlorotannins are found in various species of brown seaweeds. In general, Ecklonia Cava just appears to be a vessel for Phlorotannin structures (common to seaweeds, but no other source possesses them). It does possess Phloroglucinol which is common to all seaweeds, but it seems to possess a higher Eckol and Dieckol content (which seem to be more prominent in the Ecklonia species) 1.3. Patents 'Ventol' is a term used to refer to an extraction of Ecklonia Cava rich in phlorotannin compounds,[12] with enzymatic extractions in general increasing the content of phloroglucinols (polyphenolics) on a weight basis sometimes exceeding 50%.[11] 'Viscozyme' is a polysaccharide from Ecklonia Cava that is fermented by the bacteria Lactobacillus brevis, and produced by Novozyme corporation.[13] This fermentation was found in a Master's Thesis study where Ecklonia was fermented by said bacteria as well as Candida utilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the Viscozyme fermentation showing greatest subsequent Nitric Oxide suppression in a macrophage cell line (indicative of anti- inflammatory properties).[13] Fermentation in general is known to increae anti-oxidant properties of Ecklonia Cava,[14] this study was fermented using a separate Bacteria species than Viscozyme (Candida utilis) and the degree of improvement may not be accurate. 2Neurology 2.1. Alzheimer's In HEK293 cells overexpressing amyloid precursor protein (APP), the butanolic extract of -protein oligermization, fibrillization, -induced neuronal cell death.[15] This was replicated elsewhere, where 40 protein secretion from HEK293 cells to 42.6+/-6.6% of control -42 to 28.3+/-4.9% (with dose-dependence showing at lower doses, but not statistically significance).[16] When assessing secretase enzymes decreases were noted in the alpha secretases of ADAM10 and ADAM17 and the gamma secretase PSEN1, but not PSEN2; mRNA levels of both BACE1 and BACE2 were unaffected although the protein content of BACE1 was reduced.[16] When assessing activity of secretases, a slight increase of alpha secretase inhibitory is met with a reduction in gamma secretase activity (correlating with PSEN1 reduction) with no significant changes to beta-secretase activity.[16] Additionally, Dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol may possess anti-cholinesterase properties.[17] May have anti-Alzheimer's properties, but no living models have been assessed so far 2.2. Neuroprotection Injections of 50mg/kg Ecklonia Cava into rats prior to experimental infarct induction via middle cerebral artery occlusion was able to exert neuroprotective effects as assessed by less brain edema, neural apoptosis, and infarct size after injury.[18] In HT22 hippocampal cells, various phlorotannins showed anti-oxidant properties at 50uM and reduced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) induced by hydrogen peroxide by 75.22% (phloroglucinol), 69% (eckol), 67.32% (triphlorethol-A), 77.63% (eckstolonol), and 77.73% (dieckol), although a tenth the concentration of dieckol (5uM) reduced ROS by 50.42%.[19] TBARS (measure of lipid peroxidation) was reduced with similar potency, and these effects occured with a preservation of cell viability and prevention of calcium influx.[19] Anti-inflammatory may also be present in microglia cells, where isolated Dieckol exerts anti- inflammatory effects against LPS-induced microglia and suppresses COX-2, iNOS, PGE(2) and NO production in response to LPS at 50-300mcg/mL.[20] The highest concentration (300mcg/mL) was associated with normalizing PGE(2) and NO, suggesting that the dose- dependent