linolenic acid

/ (ˌlɪnəʊˈlɛnɪk, -ˈliː-) /


noun
  1. a colourless unsaturated essential fatty acid found in drying oils, such as linseed oil, and used in making paints and synthetic resins; 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. Formula: C 18 H 30 O 2: Also called: alpha-linolenic acid

Words Nearby linolenic acid

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Scientific definitions for linolenic acid

linolenic acid

[ lĭn′ə-lĕnĭk ]


  1. An unsaturated fatty acid that has three double bonds and is a nutrient essential to the formation of prostaglandins in the human body. Linolenic acid belongs to the class of omega-3 fatty acids. It is an important component of natural drying oils (such as linseed oil) and is also found in some fish oils. Chemical formula: C18H30O2.

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