Anchor: A substance extracted from a type of seaweed called "ecklonia cava" or "gamtae" in Korean has been recognized for its effectiveness in treating sleeplessness. Researchers who discovered the effects of the common seaweed claim that a health supplement made from the extract is more effective than the Valerian plant commonly used to treat sleep disorders. 
Our Kim Soyon has this report. 
 
Report: Korean scientist have developed a new sleeping-enhancing health supplement from a type of brown algae called "gamtae," used most often to feed species of sea snails.
 
The Korea Food Research Institute said Tuesday that the Food and Drug Safety Ministry green-lit a health supplement extracted from gamtae, or ecklonia cava, commonly grown off the coasts of Korea and Japan. 
 
A research team at the institute led by Dr. Cho Sueng-mok discovered the sleep-enhancing effects of phlorotannins extracted from the seaweed for the first time in 2011.  
 
The Korea Food Research Institute explained that based on animal tests over the last two years, the extracted substance has been proven to reduce the time needed to fall asleep and to extend the length of deep sleep hours. The researchers said that they found that the gamtae substance is more effective than the Valerian plant widely used to treat sleep disorders.
 
The food researchers also stressed that the seaweed substance lacks the side effects of common sleeping pills such as daytime drowsiness and drug resistance. 
 
The new gamtae herbal supplement will begin to be marketed around this June.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.