Chemicals and Drugs

Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Important polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oils. It serves as the precursor for the prostaglandin-3 and thromboxane-3 families. A diet rich in eicosapentaenoic acid lowers serum lipid concentration, reduces incidence of cardiovascular disorders, prevents platelet aggregation, and inhibits arachidonic acid conversion into the thromboxane-2 and prostaglandin-2 families.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Important polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oils. It serves as the precursor for the prostaglandin-3 and thromboxane-3 families. A diet rich in eicosapentaenoic acid lowers serum lipid concentration, reduces incidence of cardiovascular disorders, prevents platelet aggregation, and inhibits arachidonic acid conversion into the thromboxane-2 and prostaglandin-2 families.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C20H30O2
Molecular Weight
302.5 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
25377-48-4
IUPAC Name
(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-icosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid
InChIKey
JAZBEHYOTPTENJ-JLNKQSITSA-N
SMILES
CC/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\C/C=C\CCCC(=O)O
MeSH Unique ID
D015118
Source
PubChem CID 446284

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

8 entry terms
  • 5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • 5,8,11,14,17-Icosapentaenoic Acid
  • Eicosapentanoic Acid
  • Icosapent
  • Timnodonic Acid
  • omega-3-Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Acid, Eicosapentanoic
  • omega 3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

28 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

2003(1986);

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Fatty Acids (1966-1972)
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated (1973-1985)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D10w.212w.302.380.410w.385w
  2. D10w.251w.355w.255w.200w
  3. D10w.251w.355w.337w.290w
  4. D10w.627w.430w.450w.390w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Eicosapentaenoic Acid. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015118. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015118
  2. Eicosapentaenoic Acid. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eicosapentaenoic_acid
  3. Eicosapentaenoic Acid. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q409990
  4. Eicosapentaenoic Acid. In: PubChem Compound. CID 446284. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/446284