Arachidonic acid

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Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega−6 fatty acid 20:4(ω−6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes. Together with omega−3 fatty acids and other omega−6 fatty acids, arachidonic acid provides energy for body functions, contributes to cell membrane structure, and participates in the synthesis of eicosanoids, which have numerous roles in physiology as signaling molecules. It was named after the similarly structured arachidic acid, a constituent of peanut oil whose name in turn derives from the ancient Greek neologism arachis 'peanut'. Peanut oil does not contain any arachidonic acid, itself. Arachidonate is the name of the derived carboxylate anion (conjugate base of the acid), salts, and some esters.

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