E-configuration structures of EPA and DHA derived from Euphausia superba and their significant inhibitive effects on growth of human cancer cell lines in vitro

Many bioactive components such as poly-unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. EPA and DHA), phospholipids and astaxanthin are known in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil. The krill DHA and EPA are generally considered to be similar to natural ones. However, two chemical compounds which were separated from Antarctic krill oil and identified as EPA and DHA by HRESIMS and NMR acted much more effective inhibitive activities on growth of several cell lines (U937, K562, SMMC-7721, PC-3, MDA-MB-231, HL60 and MCF-7) than those from sturgeon liver and commercial fish oil. Taking MCF-7 as an example, the IC50 values of Antarctic krill EPA and DHA were 14.01 and 19.94 mu M, while the IC50 values of sturgeon liver and commercial fish EPA and DHA were 81.45, 73.13, 82.11 and 75.31 mu M, respectively. Raman spectra revealed that the Antarctic krill EPA and DHA have E-configuration structures, which were different from those in commercial fish oil. Additionally, the Antarctic krill EPA and DHA had no effects on human normal liver cell line HL7702. These results indicated that the Antarctic krill E-EPA and E-DHA had a great prospect in cancer therapy.