Shandong Huashang Chemical Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and development, manufacturing, and sales of fine chemicals. Headquartered in Jinan, Shandong, China, we are committed to delivering high-quality products to our global partners. Currently, over 90% of our products are exported to developed markets, including North America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East.
Product Description
cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-Docosahexaenoic acid, commonly known as DHA, is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with 22 carbon atoms and six cis-configured double bonds, which are located at the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, and 19th carbon positions respectively. It appears as a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid at room temperature, with a characteristic slight fishy odor. It is insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, chloroform, and DMSO. As an essential nutrient for the human body, DHA is a key component of the brain, retina, and nerve cell membranes, and is widely used in food, health care products, pharmaceuticals, and biochemical research fields.
Uses
Food & Health Care Products Industry: Serves as a nutritional fortifier, widely added to infant formula milk powder, milk products, health supplements, and functional foods. It is crucial for the growth and development of the fetal and infant brain and retina, and also helps maintain normal cognitive function and visual health in adults and the elderly. It is often used in the form of soft capsules, liquid preparations, or added to daily foods to meet the body's nutritional needs.
Pharmaceutical Field: Acts as an important pharmaceutical raw material and intermediate, used in the development of drugs for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, improving cognitive impairment, and relieving inflammatory reactions. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties make it valuable in the research and development of drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. It also serves as a precursor for signaling molecules such as prostaglandins and eicosanoids.
Biochemical Research: Used as a reference standard and reaction reagent in fatty acid metabolism research, cell culture, and molecular biology experiments. It is employed as a component of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) for cell culture and DHA treatment experiments, and is also used in MTT assays to study its cytotoxic effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Additionally, it is used to research its effects on human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons at the molecular and cellular levels.
Cosmetic Industry: Incorporated into skincare products such as facial oils, lotions, and creams, leveraging its antioxidant properties to resist free radical damage, moisturize the skin, and improve skin elasticity. It can also help maintain the health of skin cell membranes, delaying skin aging and reducing skin inflammation.
Molecular Formula & Structure
- Molecular Formula: C??H??O?
- Molecular Weight: 328.49 g/mol
- IUPAC Name: cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-Docosahexaenoic acid
- Synonyms: DHA; Docosahexaenoic acid; cis-Docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid; MFCD00065722; BRN 1715505; PubChem Substance ID: 24893696
- EC Number: 228-387-3
- SMILES Code: CCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCCCC=CC=CC=CC=CC=C
- Chemical Structure: A long-chain fatty acid with a 22-carbon linear chain, containing six cis double bonds at positions 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19, and a carboxyl group (-COOH) at the terminal. As an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, its first double bond is located at the 3rd position from the methyl end (22:6 n-3), which endows it with unique biological activities and chemical properties, and is a key component of lipid membranes and myelin sheaths.
Physical & Chemical Properties
- Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow oily liquid, with a characteristic slight fishy odor; prone to oxidation when exposed to light, heat, or oxygen, turning yellowish-brown and producing a rancid smell.
- Melting Point: -44 °C; Boiling Point: 446.7 °C (at 760 mmHg); Flash Point: 62 °C (closed cup); combustible liquid.
- Density: 0.944 g/cm3 (20 °C); Refractive Index: 1.4950–1.5000 (20 °C); pKa: 4.85 (at 25 °C).
- Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in ethanol, ether, chloroform, benzene, DMSO, and other organic solvents; slightly soluble in acetone; miscible with most vegetable oils and animal oils.
- Stability: Poor stability, highly susceptible to oxidation by light, heat, oxygen, and heavy metal ions. It is stable when stored in a low-temperature, sealed, and light-resistant environment under an inert atmosphere; avoid contact with oxidizing agents and heavy metals to prevent rancidity and deterioration.
- Toxicity: Low toxicity; generally safe when used in recommended doses. Oral administration is relatively non-toxic, but excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea and diarrhea. It may cause slight skin irritation; avoid direct contact with eyes and damaged skin.
