H. Tallima
The American University in Cairo,
Egypt
Keywords: Arachidonic acid, Organic chemistry, Cancer, Schistosomiasis
Summary:
Arachidonic and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are extensively needed by the foodstuff manufacturing companies, predominantly for the production of nutraceuticals for pregnant women and elderly, and for formula for newborns and toddlers. Increased awareness in developing countries of the importance of arachidonic acid (ARA) intake for all persons will create an immense market with no international providers. More importantly, our incessant studies over 20 successive years have documented ARA as an effective schistosomicide in experimental rodents and in children and very large amounts of products are needed for schistosomiasis prevention and treatment of rural children in Africa and all tropical and subtropical countries around rivers and fresh water bodies. In addition, we have provided evidence for ARA potential in killing tumor cells in vitro and role in prevention of cancer initiation, progress, and metastasis. In order to be ready for the immense demands for ARA, we have optimized culture media composition, supplements, and temperature, time, and aging conditions conducive to optimal ARA production by the fungus Mortierella alpina. Parameters for biomass drying, and lipid extraction and analysis for evaluating percentage and content were established. The yield obtained was, however, deemed unsatisfactory for the needs of the market in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Since ARA is now advocated as the schistosomicide of the future and proposed to be used for prevention and therapy of schistosomiasis and since its cancer prophylactic and therapeutic potential are increasingly recognized, production aimed to fulfill worldwide demands should be diverted to chemical synthesis. It is necessary to combine efforts and consider implementing user-friendly, cost-effective strategies and steps for ARA production via chemical synthesis. It is herein aimed to tackle the intricacies related to ARA chemical synthesis in order to fulfill the needs of the worldwide market, especially in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. The in vitro schistosomicidal and tumoricidal potential and cost-effectiveness of the synthetic final product will be compared to commercially available pure ARA (>98.5%) from non-animal sources. No one has ever approached ARA chemical synthesis since the efforts of the sixties: Rachlin AI, Wasyliw N, Goldberg MW. Synthesis of arachidonic acid. Journal of Organic Chempstry 1961;26:2688–2693, doi: 10.1021/jo01066a019; Osbond JM, Phipott PG, Wickens JC. Essential fatty acids. Part I. Synthesis of linoleic, γ-linolenic, arachidonic, and docosa-4,7,10,13,16-pentaenoic acid. Journal of the chemical Society 1961; Issue zero:2779-2787. doi: 10.1039/JR9610002779; van der Steen, D, Pabon, HJJ, van Dorp DA. Synthesis of arachidonic acid and related higher unsaturated compounds. Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas 1963; 82:1015-1025. doi:10.1002/recl.19630821010