Arachidonic acid is a long-chain fatty acid that is a C20, polyunsaturated fatty acid having four (Z)-double bonds at positions 5, 8, 11 and 14.
Definition
Arachidonic acid is a long-chain fatty acid that is a C20, polyunsaturated fatty acid having four (Z)-double bonds at positions 5, 8, 11 and 14. It has a role as a mouse metabolite, a human metabolite, an EC 3.1.1.1 (carboxylesterase) inhibitor and a Daphnia galeata metabolite. It is a long-chain fatty acid, an omega-6 fatty acid and an icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid. It is a conjugate acid of an arachidonate. It derives from a hydride of a (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraene.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 27YG812J1I · registered name ARACHIDONIC ACID · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: Appendix to the Report on Arachidonic Acid
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Arachidonic Acid
CIR reviewed this ingredient and flagged its status as: CIR insufficient data ingredients - use not supported (insufficient data or use not supported — CIR's own classification, not a full safety-as-used conclusion).
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name アラキドン酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される高度不飽和脂肪酸である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 506-32-1
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 208-033-4
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID4040420
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID2020420
- IUPAC
- (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-Icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid
- Molecular formula
- C20H32O2
- Molecular weight
- 304.474 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Liquid, [Merck Index] · Liquid
- Boiling point
- 170 °C at 1.50E-01 mm Hg
- Melting point
- -49.5 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Odour
- odourless
- Melting/freezing point
- -49 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 170 ℃
- Flash point
- 113 ℃
- Relative density
- 0.922g/cm3 (water=1)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 6.98
- Molecular weight
- 304.5
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 3 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Softener and conditioner2
- Processing aids not otherwise specified1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Arachidonic Acid · 1993
- Regulation of dog urothelial cell arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis. · 1989
- Effect of arachidonic acid on anthralin inflammation. · 1987
- The inflammatory response of rabbit skin to topical arachidonic acid and its pharmacological modulation · 1986
- Prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis in mouse ears inflamed by arachidonic acid. · 1985
Linked databases 20
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2 3 4
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese