Characterization and cytotoxicity studies of the rare 21:4 n-7 acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids from the marine opisthobranch Scaphander lignarius, isolated using bioassay guided fractionation

Mar Drugs. 2012 Dec;10(12):2676-2690. doi: 10.3390/md10122676.

Abstract

The marine opisthobranch Scaphander lignarius has been analyzed in the systematic search for novel bioactive compounds in Arctic marine organisms using bioassay guided fractionation. A number of highly cytotoxic fractions were shown to contain mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Selected PUFAs were isolated and identified using both liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). It was shown that the opisthobranch contained unusual PUFAs such as several ω3 fatty acids and the ω7 heneicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid (21:4 n-7) not isolated before. The organism was shown to be a very rich source of PUFAs and the activity of the isolated compounds against a range of human cancer cell lines (melanoma, colon carcinoma and breast carcinoma) is further reported. The ω7 PUFA was significantly more cytotoxic in comparison with reference ω6 arachidonic and ω3 eicosapentaenoic acid. A noteworthy non-selective cytotoxicity against normal lung fibroblasts was also established. The paper contains isolation protocols in addition to cytotoxicity data of the isolated compounds. The potential of marine mollusks as a source for rare PUFAs is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Arachidonic Acid / pharmacology
  • Biological Assay
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / isolation & purification
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / toxicity
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mollusca / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid