Chaulmoogric Acid
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Chaulmoogric acid is a fatty acid found chaulmoogra oil, the oil from the seeds of ''
Hydnocarpus wightianus ''Hydnocarpus pentandrus'' (previously ''Hydnocarpus wightianus'') or chaulmoogra is a medium-sized tree in the family Achariaceae. This dioecious tree grows up to 10m height, in moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats in India. ''Hydnocarpus ...
''. It is an unusual fatty acid which has a
cyclopentene Cyclopentene is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless liquid with a petrol-like odor. It has few applications, and thus is mainly used as a minor component of gasoline, present in concentrations of less than 1%. It is one of t ...
ring at its terminus instead of being entirely linear like most fatty acids. It is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 68.5 °C. It is soluble in
ether In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group, a single oxygen atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an organyl group (e.g., alkyl or aryl). They have the general formula , where R and R� ...
,
chloroform Chloroform, or trichloromethane (often abbreviated as TCM), is an organochloride with the formula and a common solvent. It is a volatile, colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid produced on a large scale as a precursor to refrigerants and po ...
, and
ethyl acetate Ethyl acetate commonly abbreviated EtOAc, ETAC or EA) is the organic compound with the formula , simplified to . This flammable, colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell (similar to pear drops) and is used in glues, nail polish removers, ...
. In the early 20th century, it was investigated as a possible treatment for
leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a Chronic condition, long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the Peripheral nervous system, nerves, respir ...
due to the use in traditional medicine of chaulmoogra oil for leprosy.


See also

* Hydnocarpic acid


References

Fatty acids Cyclopentenes {{OrganicAcid-stub