Ecklonia Cava
OTHER NAME(S): Algae, Algas Pardas, Algues Brunes, Algues Brunes Marines, Brown Alga, Brown Algae, Brown Seaweed, EC, ECE, Ecklonia Extract, Eckol, LAD103, Marine Brown Algae, Phlorotannin, Ventol, Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia Cava Extract
Overview
Ecklonia cava is a type of brown algae that is rich in phlorotannins, a type of antioxidant. It's used in food and medicine in Japan and Korea.
Ecklonia cava contains several chemicals that are thought to prevent damage to the body that can lead to cancer and other conditions. These chemicals might also have effects on swelling and the body's immune system.
People use Ecklonia cava for high cholesterol, cancer, osteoarthritis, athletic performance, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse Ecklonia cava with other types of algae, including Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, and Laminaria. These are not the same.
Uses
Possibly Effective for
- High cholesterol. Taking Ecklonia cava extract by mouth might help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in people with high cholesterol levels.
There is interest in using Ecklonia cava for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Most extracts of Ecklonia cava are possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. One specific extract (SeaPolynol) is possibly safe when used in doses of up to 263 mg daily.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Most extracts of Ecklonia cava are possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. One specific extract (SeaPolynol) is possibly safe when used in doses of up to 263 mg daily.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use Ecklonia cava when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: One specific extract (SeaPolynol) is possibly safe when taken by mouth in doses up to 163 mg daily in children aged 12-14 years, and 230 mg daily in children aged 14 years and older. There isn't enough reliable information to know if Ecklonia cava is safe for children under 12 years old.
Thyroid problems: Ecklonia cava contains iodine. Iodine might make thyroid problems worse.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Amiodarone (Cordarone) interacts with Ecklonia CavaAmiodarone contains iodine. Ecklonia cava also contains iodine. Taking Ecklonia cava along with amiodarone might increase the levels of iodine in the blood. Too much iodine in the blood can cause side effects that affect the thyroid.
- Medications for an overactive thyroid (Antithyroid drugs) interacts with Ecklonia CavaEcklonia cava contains iodine. Iodine can increase or decrease thyroid function. Taking Ecklonia cava along with medications for an overactive thyroid might change the effects of these medications.
- Thyroid hormone interacts with Ecklonia CavaEcklonia cava contains iodine. Iodine can increase or decrease thyroid function. Taking Ecklonia cava along with thyroid hormone medications might change the effects of these medications.
Dosing
Ecklonia cava extracts are often dosed by polyphenol content. The extracts are most often used by adults in doses of 144-400 mg of polyphenols daily by mouth for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
References
- Kang KA, Lee KH, Chae S, et al. Eckol isolated from Ecklonia cava attenuates oxidative stress induced cell damage in lung fibroblast cells. FEBS Lett 2005;579:6295-304.
- Athukorala Y, Kim KN, Jeon YJ. Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of an enzymatic hydrolysate from brown alga, Ecklonia cava. Food Chem Toxicol 2006;44:1065-74.
- Shin HC, Hwang HJ, Kang KJ, Lee BH. An antioxidative and antiinflammatory agent for potential treatment of osteoarthritis from Ecklonia cava. Arch Pharm Res 2006;29:165-71.
- Kang KA, Zhang R, Lee KH, et al. Protective effect of triphlorethol-A from Ecklonia cava against ionizing radiation in vitro. J Radiat Res (Tokyo) 2006;47:61-8.
- Kim MM, Ta QV, Mendis E, et al. Phlorotannins in Ecklonia cava extract inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity. Life Sci 2006;79:1436-43.
- Kang K, Hwang HJ, Hong DH, et al. Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of ventol, a phlorotannin-rich natural agent derived from Ecklonia cava, and its effect on proteoglycan degradation in cartilage explant culture. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 2004;115-116:77-95.
- Kim SK, Lee DY, Jung WK, et al. Effects of Ecklonia cava ethanolic extracts on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a murine asthma model: role of suppressor of cytokine signaling. Biomed Pharmacother 2008;62:289-96.
- Park E, Ahn GN, Lee NH, et al. Radioprotective properties of eckol against ionizing radiation in mice. FEBS Lett 2008;582:925-30.
- Artan M, Li Y, Karadeniz F, et al. Anti-HIV-1 activity of phloroglucinol derivative, 6,6'-bieckol, from Ecklonia cava. Bioorg Med Chem 2008;16:7921-6.
- Jung WK, Ahn YW, Lee SH, et al. Ecklonia cava ethanolic extracts inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in BV2 microglia via the MAP kinase and NF-kappaB pathways. Food Chem Toxicol 2009;47:410-7.
- Li Y, Qian ZJ, Ryu B, et al. Chemical components and its antioxidant properties in vitro: an edible marine brown alga, Ecklonia cava. Bioorg Med Chem 2009;17:1963-73.
- Lee SH, Jeon YJ. Efficacy and safety of a dieckol-rich extract (AG-dieckol) of brown algae, Ecklonia cava, in pre-diabetic individuals: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Food Funct. 2015;6(3):853-8.
- Shin HC, Kim SH, Park Y, Lee BH, Hwang HJ. Effects of 12-week oral supplementation of Ecklonia cava polyphenols on anthropometric and blood lipid parameters in overweight Korean individuals: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2012;26(3):363-8.
- Oh JK, Shin YO, Yoon JH, Kim SH, Shin HC, Hwang HJ. Effect of supplementation with Ecklonia cava polyphenol on endurance performance of college students. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010;20(1):72-9.
- Kim J, Jung Y, Lee E, et al. Urinary metabolomic profiling analysis and evaluation of the effect of Ecklonia cava extract intake. Nutrients 2020;12(5):1407.
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), Turck D, et al. Safety of Ecklonia cava phlorotannins as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. EFSA J 2017;15(10):e05003.
- Lee HJ, Kwon O, Kim JY. Supplementation of a polyphenol extract from Ecklonia cava reduces body fat, oxidative and inflammatory stress in overweight healthy subjects with abdominal obesity: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J. Functional Foods. 2018;46:356-64.
- Lee DH, Park MY, Shim BJ, et al. Effects of Ecklonia cava polyphenol in individuals with hypercholesterolemia: a pilot study. J Med Food. 2012;15(11):1038-44.
- Choi EK, Park SH, Ha KC, et al. Clinical trial of the hypolipidemic effects of a brown alga Ecklonia cava extract in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Int. J. Pharm. 2015;11:798-805.