Antitumour activity of EPA-enriched phospholipids liposomes against S180 ascitic tumour-bearing mice

•Phospholipids derived from starfish Asterias amurensis (SFP) and sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa (SCP) are rich in EPA.•SFP and SCP liposomes inhibited cell proliferation of various kinds of cancer cells.•SFP and SCP liposomes showed high transport and uptake effects in small intestinal epithelial cell models.•Dietary SFP and SCP liposomes prolonged the life span of S180 ascitic tumour bearing-mice.•SFP and SCP liposomes exerted antitumour effects via activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. The health benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched phospholipids (PL) have witnessed a recent upsurge. In the present study, PL from starfish Asterias amurensis (SFP) and sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa (SCP) were extracted and the liposomes were prepared. Both SFP and SCP liposomes showed antitumour effects in vitro and exhibited high transport and uptake effects in small intestinal epithelial cell models. The results also demonstrated that dietary SFP and SCP liposomes prolonged the life span and ameliorated oxidative stress status of S180 ascitic tumour-bearing mice. Results also showed that dietary SFP and SCP liposomes up-regulated the expression of Bax and down-regulated Bcl-2 level in tumour cells, then induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol, thus the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3. Taken together, these findings suggest that SFP and SCP liposomes exert antitumour effects mainly via activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways in tumour-bearing mice.