Eicosapentaenoic Acid Purified From Chlorella And Its Immunomodulatory Effect In Mice

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been reported to be generally beneficial in brain development, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-tumor. Most researchers have expounded the effects of dietary docosahexaenoic to eicosapentaenoic acid ratio (DHA/EPA) on immunity, inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders. The effects of EPA and DHA are not differentiated in most studies. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of EPA on immunity in mice, which was purified from Chlorella (C95).Experimental results:(1) Under the laboratory culture conditions, the maximum biomass of Chlorella is4.05×107/ml. The total lipid content of chlorella powder on dry weight is12.8%. The EPA content is19.67%. Separated with silver nitrate-silica gel column by chromatography, the purity of obtained EPA is91.28%.(2) EPA was contributed to decrease the Cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression in mice. In the prevention group, compared with the model group, the mice in the other groups significantly reduced the impact of cyclophosphamide on spleen index, thymus index and serum hemolysin, and the three indicators were49.01±4.67,27.39±1.90and66.63±4.86, respectively. The mice consumed high doses of EPA per day increased the proliferation of macrophages, phagocytic activity and proliferative activity induced by LPS and ConA on spleen cells, NK cell killing activity.In the normal group, high supplement of EPA can improve various indicators in mice. The effect of EPA supplement of44mg/kg-d is significantly enhances mice immune function, compared with the control group.(3) EPA can increase the gene expression of cytokines in spleen and macrophage, for example IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β. EPA can improve immune function in mice.