Antarctic Krill-FUNCTION Technology-Official website

The genome of the Antarctic krillhas been successfully deciphered.

·Antarctic krill is the animal with the largest biomass on Earth;

·Antarctic krill possesses the largest animal genome reference sequence to date, with a genome size of approximately 48 GB, about 16 times the size of the human genome;

·Antarctic krill is one of the oldest extant species on Earth, having survived on the planet for over 120 million years.

*Source: Cell, an international academic journal

Implementing the National 863 Program Focusing on the Antarctic Krill Industry

In the early 1960s, a group of countries led by the former Soviet Union began large-scale commercial fishing of Antarctic krill, initiating the Era 1.0 of Antarctic krill. Subsequently, Japan followed suit, ushering in the Era 2.0. The "New Leader" Norway opened the Era 3.0. In 2010, China included the "development and utilization of Antarctic krill biological resources" in the National 863 Program, marking the beginning of China's Era 4.0 in Antarctic krill development.

Era 1.0
Pioneer: Former Soviet Union

Era 2.0
Follower: Japan

Era 3.0
"New Leader": Norway

Era 4.0
China "National 863 Program"

Why are Antarctic animals healthy and long-lived?

Their common characteristic: Antarctic krill, rich in various nutrients such as marine phospholipids, is the fundamental food they rely on for survival. Antarctic krill is a fundamental species in the Antarctic ecosystem, which is at the bottom of the food chain. It is an important food source for whales, seals, squid, fish, penguins, albatrosses, Arctic terns, and many other birds. For example, 98% of the food for crabeater seals is Antarctic krill. Through decades of studies, scientists have found that fin whales living in Antarctic waters are free from cancer throughout their lives, and Antarctic krill is the main food for fin whales. Subsequently, they have also found that Antarctic krill is rich in highly active nutrients, including Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids (EPA, DHA) naturally bound by phospholipids and astaxanthin, the strongest natural antioxidant component ever discovered.

Hatch baby penguins at -40°C.

Dive to over 600 m underwater and sustain swimming for 73 min

Swim at speeds of up to 46 km/h and consume 1.8 tons of krill per day

Fly to Antarctica annually to feed on krill for a month and then return to the Arctic to hatch tern chicks, covering a total distance of over 40,000 km

Antarctic Krill—A Premium Source of Fourth-Generation Omega-3

Antarctic krill is rich in phospholipid-type Omega-3 (DHA/EPA), which are essential biomolecules that form the foundation of cellular structures, support cell and organelle membranes, and play a vital roles in cellular biochemistry and physiology. The high content of unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in marine phospholipids is crucial for maintaining plasma and cell membrane fluidity in Antarctic animals in extremely cold marine environments.

Comprehensive Utilization of Antarctic Krill

Applications of Antarctic Krill Phospholipids in the Pharmaceutical Field

Drug delivery

Phospholipids exhibit special amphiphilicity (hydrophilic & lipophilic), improve the absorption of substances with low solubility and low permeability, and show multiple significant advantages in drug delivery systems.

APIs

Phospholipids are the basic structures of biological membranes and possess various physiological activities, such as cardiovascular care, metabolism promotion, and neuroprotection. Function Technology's program "Drug Development of Refined Polyene Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) from Antarctic Krill Oil for the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia" was included in the 2024 Shandong Province Enterprise Technology Innovation Project Plan (First Batch).

Application in the Field of Medical Nutrition

Antarctic krill oil, the nutritional essence extracted from Antarctic krill, is a novel nutritional food. It is rich in marine phospholipids, Omega-3, choline, and astaxanthin, among other nutritional elements, making it an ideal source for supplementing marine phospholipid Omega-3 due to its advantages.

Global Medical Research on Antarctic Krill Oil (Peptide)

Induce apoptosis of tumor cells

Alleviate inflammatory diseases

Improve depressive state in zebrafish

Prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Significantly reduce systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Lower the risk of cardiovascular disease

Assist in lowering blood glucose

Experts' Opinions

The 2nd International Symposium on Marine Drugs and Biological Products | Guo Yingying， Associate Researcher of Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute， Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences: Interpretation and Application of Technical Standards for Quality Evaluation of Antarctic Krill Oil

The 2nd International Symposium on Marine Drugs and Biological Products | Yin Fawen, Associate Professor of School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University: Innovation and Development of the Antarctic Krill Industry

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Song Zhenhua, Associate Professor of the School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University: Pharmacological Study on Krill Oil and Polyene Phosphatidylcholine in Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Wang Yuming, Professor of the College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China: Research Progress on High-value Utilization of Antarctic Krill Protein

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Fu Xianjun, Director of the Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: In-depth Development of Authentic Medicinal and Edible Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials and Formulations in Shandong Province

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Sun Yong, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University: Research Progress on High-end Formulations Based on Krill Phospholipid Delivery

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Xu Hanmei, Professor of the School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University: Breakthrough in Research on Antarctic Krill Polypeptides for Anti-cancer and Anti-aging

The 2nd International Academic Forum on Marine Medicine and Biological Products | Zhao Xianyong, Researcher of the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute: Technological Innovation Supports High-quality Development of the Emerging Antarctic Krill Industry

Face-to-Face with Expert: Exploring Antarctic Krill | Sun Yong, Dean and Professor of the School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, reveals the absorption rate of marine phospholipids far exceeds that of terrestrial phospholipids!

Face-to-Face with Expert: Exploring Antarctic Krill | Jiang Guoliang, Professor of the Ocean University of China and one of China's first scientific expedition experts involved in the development and utilization of Antarctic marine resources, reveals why Antarctic animals are healthy and long-lived ?

Antarctic Krill