What is palmitoylethanolamide?

Palmitoylethanolamide is a small fat-like molecule. Chemists class it as an N-acylethanolamine: a fatty acid joined to ethanolamine.

The basics

• Formula: C18H37NO2
• Systematic name: N-(2-hydroxyethyl)hexadecanamide
• CAS number: 544-31-0
• Fatty acid part: palmitic acid, a saturated chain of 16 carbons
• Appearance: white crystals that melt at about 93 to 98 °C

It dissolves in fat far better than in water. That property matters for how it is absorbed. See Absorption studies.

Its relatives

Palmitoylethanolamide belongs to the same family as anandamide and oleoylethanolamide. The three differ in the fatty acid they carry.

Anandamide is an endocannabinoid. Palmitoylethanolamide is not a classic endocannabinoid, because it does not bind the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors to a meaningful degree.

Made by the body

The body makes palmitoylethanolamide from fats in cell membranes and breaks it down again into palmitic acid and ethanolamine. See In food and the body and Breakdown: FAAH and NAAA.

Source

Rankin and Fowler 2020. Chemical identifiers are from the standard chemical record for CAS 544-31-0.