Description
γ-
Linolenic acid (GLA) is an ω-
6 fatty acid which can be elongated to arachidonic acid for endogenous eicosanoid synthesis. It is a weak leukotriene B
4 (LTB
4) receptor antagonist, inhibiting [
3H]-
LTB
4 binding to porcine neutrophil membranes with a K
i value of 1 μM. GLA produces 53% inhibition at a 1 mg/kg dose in an
in vivo model of LTB
4-
induced bronchoconstriction. GLA ethyl ester is an esterified version of the free acid which is less water soluble but more amenable for the formulation of GLA-
containing diets.