Juglandic acid (/dʒuːɡˈlændɪk ˈæsɪd/) is a fatty acid found in walnuts and hickory nuts. The spelling of this word is derived from the Latin term for walnut, "juglans," and the suffix "ic" which indicates that it is an acid. The "land" portion of the word is pronounced as "lænd" with the "a" being a short vowel sound and the "d" being pronounced. The phonetic transcription can help in correctly pronouncing the word, which is important in fields such as nutrition and chemistry.
Juglandic acid is a naturally occurring compound belonging to the group of chemicals known as hydroxamic acids. It is primarily found in the fruits and leaves of the walnut tree (genus Juglans) and is specifically derived from a variant of the phenolic compound, juglone.
In terms of its chemical structure, juglandic acid consists of a hydroxyl (OH) group bonded to a nitrogen atom through a carboxylic acid functional group (COOH). This acid possesses an aromatic ring that contains a hydroxyl group as well, giving it its characteristic chemical properties.
Juglandic acid has been studied for its potential health benefits, particularly for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Some studies have shown that juglandic acid has the ability to inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells and reduce the production of inflammatory mediators in vitro. However, further research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications.
It is worth noting that juglandic acid is one of the many phytochemicals present in walnut fruits and leaves, which have been associated with various health benefits such as antioxidant and cardioprotective effects.
An acid from the bark of the butternut tree, Juglans cinerea.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "juglandic acid" is derived from the noun "juglans", which is a Latin word meaning "walnut". "Juglans" itself is derived from the combination of the Latin words "jovis", meaning "Jupiter" or "god", and "glans", meaning "acorn" or "nut". Thus, "juglans" refers specifically to the walnut tree. The term "juglandic acid" is used to describe a type of acid found in walnuts, derived from the name of the tree it comes from.