Chemical Structure

• Formula: C??H??O?

• IUPAC Name: Pentadecanoic acid

• Structure: CH?(CH?)??COOH

• A 15-carbon chain with a carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional group at one end.

Physical Properties

• State: Solid at room temperature (melting point ~52–53°C).

• Boiling Point: ~257°C (at 760 mmHg).

• Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, ether).

• Odor: Mild fatty odor, typical of saturated fatty acids.

Natural Sources

• Dairy Products: Found in milk fat, butter, and cheese (a biomarker for dairy intake).

• Animal Fats: Present in ruminant meat (e.g., beef, lamb) and fish oils.

• Plants: Minor component in some seed oils (e.g., macadamia nut oil).

Biological and Health Relevance

1. Biomarker: Used in nutritional studies to assess dairy consumption.

2. Health Associations:

• Linked to reduced risk of metabolic disorders (e.g., type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease) in observational studies.

• Odd-chain saturated fatty acids like C15:0 may have unique metabolic roles compared to even-chain counterparts (e.g., palmitic acid).

3. Anti-inflammatory Properties: Emerging research suggests potential anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing effects.

Applications

• Research: Used as a standard in gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) for lipid analysis.

• Industrial: Rarely used commercially but may serve as a precursor in specialty chemicals or surfactants.

• Cosmetics: Occasionally incorporated into formulations for its emollient properties.

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