• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2015

Omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is an essential fatty acid necessary for human health, and it protects against cardiovascular disease, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effects of omega-3-rich harp seal oil (HSO) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin-(IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) in peritoneal macrophages of mice. The culture supernatants of murine macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), HSO, or HSO+LPS were harvested to assay IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) cytokines and NO. TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) levels, except IL-6, were lower in the culture supernatants of mouse peritoneal macrophages exposed to LPS plus HSO than those of the groups exposed to LPS alone. These observations demonstrate that omega-3-rich harp seal oil downregulates the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40). These results suggest that HSO could be potentially used as a preventive agent or as an adjunct in anti-inflammatory therapy, if more research results were accumulated.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 2011

The compositions of health functional food products (HFFP; 18 products) containing gamma linolenic acid (GLA; $C_{18:3}$, n-6) and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) were investigated. The contents of index components (especially, GLA and omega-3) in HFFPs were monitored by GC-FID analysis. Among the GLA products (sample No. 1~8), the content of GLA in most samples (except sample No.6) ranged from 8.04 to 9.98 g/100 g. These results were suitable for the reference standard (more 7.0 g/100 g) of HFF. In the omega-3 products (sample No. 10 and 15) derived from harp seal oil (HSO), the total contents of EPA and DHA were 14.21-15.98 g/100 g, respectively. These values were suitable for the reference standard (more 12.0 g/100 g) of HFF. Besides, among the omega-3 products (sample No.9, 11~14, 16~18) derived from fish oil, the total content of EPA and DHA ranged from 24.11 to 31.20 g/100 g. These results were suitable for the reference standard (more 18.0 g/100 g) of HFF. In the result of TLC analysis, the HFFPs of 18 were mainly composed of triacylglycerols (TAGs). The content of trans fatty acid in 18 HFFPs was detected in less than 0.30 g/100 g. For the detection of trans fatty acid, $^1H$-NMR (600 MHz) can be used because chemical shift of trans fatty acid was observed at 5.3 ppm in this study.