Myristic acid ( IUPAC name: tetradecanoic acid) is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH₃(CH₂)₁₂COOH. Its salts and esters are commonly referred to as myristates or tetradecanoates. It is named after the

binomial name In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

for nutmeg ('' Myristica fragrans''), from which it was first isolated in 1841 by Lyon Playfair.

Occurrence

Nutmeg butter Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus ''Myristica''. ''Myristica fragrans'' (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, an ...

has 75% trimyristin, the triglyceride of myristic acid. Besides nutmeg, myristic acid is found in palm kernel oil,

coconut oil frameless , right , alt = A cracked coconut and a bottle of coconut oil Coconut oil (or coconut butter) is an edible oil derived from the wick, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit. Coconut oil is a white solid fat; in warmer climates duri ...

, butterfat, 8–14% of bovine milk, and 8.6% of

breast milk Breast milk (sometimes spelled as breastmilk) or mother's milk is milk produced by mammary glands located in the breast of a human female. Breast milk is the primary source of nutrition for newborns, containing fat, protein, carbohydrates ( lacto ...

as well as being a minor component of many other animal fats. It is found in

spermaceti Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale (and, in smaller quantities, in the oils of other whales). Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. This organ may contain as much as of ...

, the crystallized fraction of oil from the

sperm whale The sperm whale or cachalot (''Physeter macrocephalus'') is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus ''Physeter'' and one of three extant species in the sperm whale famil ...

. It is also found in the rhizomes of the Iris, including Orris root.

Chemical behaviour

Myristic acid acts as a lipid anchor in biomembranes. Reduction of myristic acid yields

myristyl aldehyde Myristyl aldehyde, also known as tetradecanal, is a reduced form of myristic acid. It is naturally produced by bioluminescent bacteria of the ''Vibrio'' genus and is one of two substrates produced and consumed by the ''Vibrio fischeri'' lucifera ...

and

myristyl alcohol 1-Tetradecanol, or commonly myristyl alcohol (from ''Myristica fragrans'' – the nutmeg plant), is a straight-chain saturated fatty alcohol, with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)12CH2OH. It is a white waxy solid that is practically insoluble in wa ...

Health effects

Myristic acid consumption raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

References

{{Fatty acids Fatty acids Alkanoic acids