Abstract
Phospholipid is an essential constituent of biological membranes in all the organisms and is biosynthesized from nutrients ingested as food. Recently, various roles of phospholipid in the expression of cell functions have been rapidly revealed as follows : phospholipid regulates the functions of cell membrane proteins, and is a source of various mediators including polyunsaturated fatty acids as precursors of icosanoids. PAF (platelet-activating factor) involved in allergic disorder and inflammation is also one kind of phosholipids.
Lecithin, a well-known phospholipid which is commonly found in food, was commercialized as healthful food, and has been used as a medicine for chronic hepatic diseases since the 1960's.
The authors, recently, found out icosapentaenoic acid (EPA) -producing bacteria and revealed that the bacterial EPA is bound to the β-position of the phospholipid molecule by an ester bond.
Then the oral administration of the EPA-phospholipid to the SHR-SP rats showed a specific physiological activity, that is, the weight reduction of the adipose tissue in addition to the physiological activities of EPA previously described. Thus the research for physiological activity of phospholipid will be greatly progressing.
