jacaric acid

Jacaric acid is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid first isolated from seeds of Jacaranda plants. Structurally, it is an 18-carbon ω-6 triene isomer of γ-linolenic acid . Jacaric acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines (GI50 = 1-5 μM). It increases the production of reactive oxygen species, and cytotoxicity is abolished by the antioxidant α-tocopherol, suggesting that apoptosis results from oxidative stress. Jacaric acid is metabolized in vivo to conjugated linoleic acid , which is also cytotoxic to cancer cells. Jacaric acid inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 in vitro (Ki = 1.7 μM) and, with long term feeding, decreases stearoyl-CoA desaturase expression and activity in mice.

Jacaric acid methyl ester is the methyl ester form of the conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid, jacaric acid. Jacaric acid selectively induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. It causes LNCaP cell death in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Jacaric acid methyl ester is utilized in cancer research.