Synthesis of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Enriched Phosphatidylcholine and Analysis of Its Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched phosphatidylcholine (PC) was synthesized and its antioxidant and antiproliferative activities were determined. Antioxidant activity was measured using fluorescence sensitive dye 2'-7' dichiorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA), and antiproliperative activity against the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line was determined by means of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Treatment with DHA-enriched PC for 120 min showed a concentration-dependent decrease in the production of H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). After 120 min of incubation, the scavenging activity of the DHA-enriched PC used at a concentration of 200 mu M was 98% compared with the control. Treatment with DHA-enriched PC resulted in decreased growth of HT-29 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. When treated with DHA-enriched PC at concentrations of 200 mu M and 400 mu M, growth of HT-29 cells was inhibited by 74% and 82%, respectively (P<0.05). These results indicate that DHA-enriched PC has potential use in preventing cellular oxidation.