What is an arachidonate?

An arachidonate is a type of fatty acid. It is a 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that belongs to the omega-6 family of fatty acids. Arachidonate is found in the phospholipids of cell membranes, and is released when these membranes are damaged. It is a precursor to a variety of eicosanoids, which are signalling molecules that are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including inflammation, blood clotting, and the regulation of blood pressure.