Chaulmoogric acid explained

Chaulmoogric acid is a fatty acid found chaulmoogra oil, the oil from the seeds of Hydnocarpus wightianus.^[1] It is an unusual fatty acid which has a cyclopentene ring at its terminus instead of being entirely linear like most fatty acids.^[2]

It is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 68.5 °C. It is soluble in ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate.

In the early 20th century, it was investigated as a possible treatment for leprosy due to the use in traditional medicine of chaulmoogra oil for leprosy.^[3]

See also

• Hydnocarpic acid

Notes and References

1. 10.1002/jsfa.2740240606 . The component fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil . 1973 . Sengupta . A. . Gupta . J. K. . Dutta . J. . Ghosh . A. . Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture . 24 . 6 . 669–74 . 4737104. 1973JSFA...24..669S .
2. 10.1021/ja01619a038 . The Synthesis and Stereochemistry of Chaulmoogric Acid . 1955 . Mislow . Kurt . Steinberg . I. V. . Journal of the American Chemical Society . 77 . 14 . 3807–3810 .
3. The Chemotherapeutics of the Chaulmoogric Acid Series and Other Fatty Acids in Leprosy and Tuberculosis : I. Backtericidal Action; Active Principle; Specificity . Ernest Linwood Walker, Marion A. Sweeney . The Journal of Infectious Diseases . 26 . 3 . 1920 . 238–264 . 10.1093/infdis/26.3.238 . 30084434 .