Search

Microbial biofilm formation on medical devices paves the way for device-associated infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common strains involved in such infections as it is able to colonize numerous devices, such as intravenous catheters, prosthetic joints, and heart valves. We previously reported the antibiofilm activity against S. epidermidis of pentadecanoic acid (PDA) deposited by drop-casting on the silicon-based polymer poly(dimethyl)siloxane (PDMS). This material exerted an antibiofilm activity by releasing PDA; however, a toxic effect on bacterial cells was observed, which could potentially favor the emergence of resistant strains. To develop a PDA-functionalized material for medical use and overcome the problem of toxicity, we produced PDA-doped PDMS by either spray-coating or PDA incorporation during PDMS polymerization. Furthermore, we created a strategy to assess the kinetics of PDA release using ADIFAB, a very sensitive free fatty acids fluorescent probe. Spray-coating resulted in the most promising strategy as the concentration of released PDA was in the range 0.8–1.5 μM over 21 days, ensuring long-term effectiveness of the antibiofilm molecule. Moreover, the new coated material resulted biocompatible when tested on immortalized human keratinocytes. Our results indicate that PDA spray-coated PDMS is a promising material for the production of medical devices endowed with antibiofilm activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Dietary fats have been linked to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), namely, Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: This study investigated the impact of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), a type of an odd-numbered chain saturated fatty acid, for its potential anti-inflammatory properties in different mouse models of experimental IBD using the SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mouse line (14- or 24-week-old), including chronic ileitis and DSS-induced colitis. To quantitively assess the effect of C:15, we tested two dosages of C:15 in selected experiments in comparison to control mice. Intestinal inflammation and intestinal permeability were used as primary outcomes. Results: In ileitis, C:15 supplementation showed an anti-inflammatory effect in SAMP mice (e.g., a reduction in ileitis severity vs. control p < 0.0043), which was reproducible when mice were tested in the DSS model of colitis (e.g., reduced permeability vs. control p < 0.0006). Of relevance, even the short-term C:15 therapy prevented colitis in mice by maintaining body weight, decreasing inflammation, preserving gut integrity, and alleviating colitis signs. Conclusions: Collectively, the findings from both ileitis and colitis in SAMP mice indicate that C:15 may have therapeutic effects in the treatment of IBD (colitis in the short term). This promising effect has major translational potential for the alleviation of IBD in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney failure worldwide, is closely associated with high mortality in diabetic patients. However, therapeutic drugs for DN are still lacking. Ramulus Mori alkaloids (SZ-A), an effective component of alkaloids extracted from Ramulus Mori, have been found to improve glucose and lipid metabolism to mitigate diabetes and obesity; however, few studies have focused on their effects on DN progression. Thus, we investigated the protective role of SZ-A on DN through 16S rRNA sequencing, non-targeted metabolomics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments. To address our hypothesis, we established the DN mouse model by combining a high-fat diet (HFD) with streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Herein, we demonstrated that SZ-A supplementation was recalcitrant to renal injury in DN mice, improving glomerular morphology, reversing the blood biochemistry parameters, and ameliorating podocyte injury. Importantly, the composition of the gut microbiota altered after SZ-A treatment, especially with the elevated abundance of Dubosiella and the increased level of serum pentadecanoic acid. FMT experiments further revealed that the gut microbiota exerted critical effects in mediating the beneficial roles of SZ-A. In vitro experiments proved that pentadecanoic acid administration improved podocyte apoptosis induced by AGEs. Taken together, SZ-A play a renoprotective role, possibly through regulating the gut microbiota and promoting pentadecanoic acid production. Our current study lends support to more extensive clinical applications of SZ-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death caused by the peroxidation of fragile fatty acids in cell membranes, which combines with iron to increase reactive oxygen species and disable mitochondria. Ferroptosis has been linked to aging-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), an odd-chain saturated fat, is an essential fatty acid with the primary roles of stabilizing cell membranes and repairing mitochondrial function. By doing so, C15:0 reverses the underpinnings of ferroptosis. Under the proposed "Cellular Stability Hypothesis", evidence is provided to show that cell membranes optimally need >0.4% to 0.64% C15:0 to support long-term health and longevity. A pathophysiology of a newly identified nutritional C15:0 deficiency syndrome ("Cellular Fragility Syndrome") is provided that demonstrates how C15:0 deficiencies (≤0.2% total circulating fatty acids) can increase susceptibilities to ferroptosis, dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and NAFLD. Further, evidence is provided that C15:0 supplementation can reverse the described C15:0 deficiency syndrome, including the key components of ferroptosis. Given the declining dietary intake of C15:0, especially among younger generations, there is a need for extensive studies to understand the potential breadth of Cellular Fragility Syndrome across populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on characterizing the seed oil of Thapsia garganica (Apiaceae), a medicinal plant native to Laghouat, Algeria, and evaluating its antioxidant properties. Various solvent systems were employed to extract and fractionate the lipid content of T. garganica seeds oil. Chemical indices were determined, and fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed using GC/MS. Tocopherol composition was assessed via HPLC, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphényl 1-picrylhydrazyle (DPPH) method. The GC/MS analysis revealed distinct fatty acid profiles across various fractions, highlighting a notable presence of petroselinic acid and higher-than-usual levels of pentadecanoic acid in all fractions. T. garganica oil exhibited richness in tocopherols, particularly with α-tocopherol being the predominant homolog. The antioxidant activity assessment of different lipid fractions indicated potent activity within polar lipids (glycolipids and phospholipids). Furthermore, T. garganica oil was abundant in unsaturated fatty acids, notably petroselinic acid, displaying significant radical scavenging activity in its polar fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence has proved the close association between alterations in gut microbiota and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the potential roles of gut microbiota in regulating oxaliplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer (GC) have not been investigated before. We first found that antibiotic treatment diminished the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin in a GC mouse model. Importantly, this effect could be transmitted to germ-free mice via fecal microbiota transplantation, indicating a potential role of gut microbiota modulation in oxaliplatin efficacy. Further, metagenomics data showed that Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) ranked first among the bacterial species with decreased relative abundances after antibiotic treatment. Metabolically active A. muciniphila promotes oxaliplatin efficacy. As shown by metabolomics analysis, the metabolic pattern of gut microbiota was disrupted with significantly downregulated levels of pentadecanoic acid (PEA), and the use of PEA significantly promoted oxaliplatin efficacy. Mechanistically, FUBP1 positively regulated aerobic glycolysis of GC cells to hinder the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin. A. muciniphila-derived PEA functioned as an inhibitory factor of glycolysis by directly antagonizing the activity of FUBP1, which potentiated GC responses to oxaliplatin. Our research suggested a key role for intestinal A. muciniphila and its metabolite PEA in promoting oxaliplatin efficacy, thus providing a new perspective for probiotic and prebiotic intervention in GC patients during chemotherapy.

Microbial biofilm formation on medical devices paves the way for device-associated infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common strains involved in such infections as it is able to colonize numerous devices, such as intravenous catheters, prosthetic joints, and heart valves. We previously reported the antibiofilm activity against S. epidermidis of pentadecanoic acid (PDA) deposited by drop-casting on the silicon-based polymer poly(dimethyl)siloxane (PDMS). This material exerted an antibiofilm activity by releasing PDA; however, a toxic effect on bacterial cells was observed, which could potentially favor the emergence of resistant strains. To develop a PDA-functionalized material for medical use and overcome the problem of toxicity, we produced PDA-doped PDMS by either spray-coating or PDA incorporation during PDMS polymerization. Furthermore, we created a strategy to assess the kinetics of PDA release using ADIFAB, a very sensitive free fatty acids fluorescent probe. Spray-coating resulted in the most promising strategy as the concentration of released PDA was in the range 0.8–1.5 μM over 21 days, ensuring long-term effectiveness of the antibiofilm molecule. Moreover, the new coated material resulted biocompatible when tested on immortalized human keratinocytes. Our results indicate that PDA spray-coated PDMS is a promising material for the production of medical devices endowed with antibiofilm activity.

Background/Objectives: Dietary fats have been linked to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), namely, Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods: This study investigated the impact of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), a type of an odd-numbered chain saturated fatty acid, for its potential anti-inflammatory properties in different mouse models of experimental IBD using the SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mouse line (14- or 24-week-old), including chronic ileitis and DSS-induced colitis. To quantitively assess the effect of C:15, we tested two dosages of C:15 in selected experiments in comparison to control mice. Intestinal inflammation and intestinal permeability were used as primary outcomes. Results: In ileitis, C:15 supplementation showed an anti-inflammatory effect in SAMP mice (e.g., a reduction in ileitis severity vs. control p < 0.0043), which was reproducible when mice were tested in the DSS model of colitis (e.g., reduced permeability vs. control p < 0.0006). Of relevance, even the short-term C:15 therapy prevented colitis in mice by maintaining body weight, decreasing inflammation, preserving gut integrity, and alleviating colitis signs. Conclusions: Collectively, the findings from both ileitis and colitis in SAMP mice indicate that C:15 may have therapeutic effects in the treatment of IBD (colitis in the short term). This promising effect has major translational potential for the alleviation of IBD in humans.

Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an essential odd-chain saturated fatty acid with broad activities relevant to protecting cardiometabolic, immune, and liver health. C15:0 activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR, both of which are core components of the human longevity pathway. To assess the potential for C15:0 to enhance processes associated with longevity and healthspan, we used human cell-based molecular phenotyping assays to compare C15:0 with three longevity-enhancing candidates: acarbose, metformin, and rapamycin. C15:0 (n = 36 activities in 10 of 12 cell systems) and rapamycin (n = 32 activities in 12 of 12 systems) had the most clinically relevant, dose-dependent activities. At their optimal doses, C15:0 (17 µM) and rapamycin (9 µM) shared 24 activities across 10 cell systems, including anti-inflammatory (e.g., lowered MCP-1, TNFα, IL-10, IL-17A/F), antifibrotic, and anticancer activities, which are further supported by previously published in vitro and in vivo studies. Paired with prior demonstrated abilities for C15:0 to target longevity pathways, hallmarks of aging, aging rate biomarkers, and core components of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, our results support C15:0 as an essential nutrient with activities equivalent to, or surpassing, leading longevity-enhancing candidate compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney failure worldwide, is closely associated with high mortality in diabetic patients. However, therapeutic drugs for DN are still lacking. Ramulus Mori alkaloids (SZ-A), an effective component of alkaloids extracted from Ramulus Mori, have been found to improve glucose and lipid metabolism to mitigate diabetes and obesity; however, few studies have focused on their effects on DN progression. Thus, we investigated the protective role of SZ-A on DN through 16S rRNA sequencing, non-targeted metabolomics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments. To address our hypothesis, we established the DN mouse model by combining a high-fat diet (HFD) with streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Herein, we demonstrated that SZ-A supplementation was recalcitrant to renal injury in DN mice, improving glomerular morphology, reversing the blood biochemistry parameters, and ameliorating podocyte injury. Importantly, the composition of the gut microbiota altered after SZ-A treatment, especially with the elevated abundance of Dubosiella and the increased level of serum pentadecanoic acid. FMT experiments further revealed that the gut microbiota exerted critical effects in mediating the beneficial roles of SZ-A. In vitro experiments proved that pentadecanoic acid administration improved podocyte apoptosis induced by AGEs. Taken together, SZ-A play a renoprotective role, possibly through regulating the gut microbiota and promoting pentadecanoic acid production. Our current study lends support to more extensive clinical applications of SZ-A.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death caused by the peroxidation of fragile fatty acids in cell membranes, which combines with iron to increase reactive oxygen species and disable mitochondria. Ferroptosis has been linked to aging-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), an odd-chain saturated fat, is an essential fatty acid with the primary roles of stabilizing cell membranes and repairing mitochondrial function. By doing so, C15:0 reverses the underpinnings of ferroptosis. Under the proposed “Cellular Stability Hypothesis”, evidence is provided to show that cell membranes optimally need >0.4% to 0.64% C15:0 to support long-term health and longevity. A pathophysiology of a newly identified nutritional C15:0 deficiency syndrome (“Cellular Fragility Syndrome”) is provided that demonstrates how C15:0 deficiencies (≤0.2% total circulating fatty acids) can increase susceptibilities to ferroptosis, dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and NAFLD. Further, evidence is provided that C15:0 supplementation can reverse the described C15:0 deficiency syndrome, including the key components of ferroptosis. Given the declining dietary intake of C15:0, especially among younger generations, there is a need for extensive studies to understand the potential breadth of Cellular Fragility Syndrome across populations.

In the present study, we report herein the isolation of cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid, tatarinowin A (ACH-6), and pentadecanoic acid (ACH-8) from petroleum ether extract of rhizome of Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae) along with 6 other known compounds in this species. It is pertinent to mention here that this is the first report to stain these compounds in which dereplication approach based on GC-MS was applied to target unknown compounds ACH-6 and ACH-8 in A. calamus L. Derelpication approaches based on GC-MS is very useful technique in the area of drug discovery and have eminence potential to identify known and unknown compounds present in extracts of medicinal important plants. This technique can be used to expedite the process of purification of unknown compounds from different matrixes. The isolated compounds were identified with the help of inbuilt library search which reveals the presence of 17 known and 4 unknown compounds. Further, the structure elucidation of all isolated compounds was done using spectroscopy techniques. Also, the structure of ACH-6 was further confirmed by using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During adolescence, dairy product intake has shown conflicting associations with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to investigate the association between plasma fatty acids (FAs) C15:0, C17:0, and t-C16:1n-7, as biomarkers of dairy intake, with MetS and its components in Mexican adolescents. Methods: A sample of 311 participants from the Early Life Exposure in Mexico City to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort was included in this cross-sectional analysis. FA concentrations were measured in plasma as a percentage of total FA. We used quantile regression models stratified by sex to evaluate the association between FA quantiles and MetS components, adjusting for age, socioeconomic status (SES), sedentary behavior, BMI z-score, pubertal status, and energy intake. Results: We found significant associations between dairy biomarkers and the median of MetS variables. In females, t-C16:1n-7 was associated with a decrease of 2.97 cm in WC (Q4 vs. Q1; 95% CI: −5.79, −0.16). In males, C15:0 was associated with an increase of 5.84 mm/Hg in SBP (Q4 vs. Q1; CI: 1.82, 9.85). For HDL-C, we observed opposite associations by sex. C15:0 in males was associated with decreased HDL-C (Q3 vs. Q1: β = −4.23; 95% CI: −7.98, −0.48), while in females, C15:0 and t-C16:1n-7 were associated with increased HDL-C (Q3 vs. Q1: β = 4.75; 95% CI: 0.68, 8.82 and Q4 vs. Q1: β = 6.54; 95% CI: 2.01, 11.07), respectively. Additionally, in both sexes, different levels of C15:0, C17:0, and t-C16:1n-7 were associated with increased triglycerides (TG). Conclusion: Our results suggest that adolescent dairy intake may be associated in different directions with MetS components and that associations are sex-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies found that the intake of dairy products is associated with an increased amount of circulating odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA, C15:0 and C17:0) in humans and further indicate that especially C17:0 is associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, causal relationships are not elucidated. To provide a mechanistic link, mice were fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with either milk fat or C17:0 for 20 weeks. Cultured primary mouse hepatocytes were used to distinguish differential effects mediated by C15:0 or C17:0. Despite an induction of OCFA after both dietary interventions, neither long-term milk fat intake nor C17:0 supplementation improved diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in mice. HF feeding with milk fat actually deteriorates liver inflammation. Treatment of primary hepatocytes with C15:0 and C17:0 suppressed JAK2/STAT3 signaling, but only C15:0 enhanced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT. Overall, the data indicate that the intake of milk fat and C17:0 do not mediate health benefits, whereas C15:0 might be promising in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: One of the declining medicinal plant species is Coptis teeta Wall, found solely in eastern parts of India and China. The major chemical constituents present in the plant are berberine, pentadecanoic acid, copisine, palmatine, columbamine, epiberberineand jateorrhizine. The aim of present study is screening the phytoconstitutes in methanolic extract of roots by GC-MS analysis and isolating the pentadecanoic acid, aligned with DNA gyrase subunit B protein target involved in bacterial infection by carrying out molecular docking. Methods: Each concentrate of Coptis teeta was evaluated for antibacterial action by plate dissemination technique against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.GC-MS was performed for the identification of various phytochemical constituents present in methanolic extracts of Coptis teeta.Out of various chemical constituents,pentadecanoic acid was isolated and characterised by IR, 1HNMR and MASS spectroscopy.The isolated pentadecanoic acid was screened against bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia colihave shown good antibacterial activity. Results: Column chromatography was performed for separation andGC-MS showed the presence of pentadecanoic acid by a significant spot on methanolic extract, characterized by IR, NMR and MASS. The methanolic extract and isolated compoundhas shown good antibacterial activity.Protein-ligand docking was achieved between the protein PDBID: 1KZM and pentadecanoic acid which showed a good affinity indicating its potent inhibiting action. Conclusion:In binding studies, ligand showed an interaction with amino acids residue His 170, Ala 140 and Ser 246 of 1KZM which indicated the inhibition of bacterial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical signals are widespread in insects, but those resulting in interspecific communication (i.e., synomones) remain understudied. Here, we analysed chemicals left on substrates by two species of blow fly larvae, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) and Calliphora vomitoria (Linneaus) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), which can aggregate together on carrion. Using solid‐phase microextraction and dynamic headspace analysis, we identified six compounds common to both species: the decanoic, tetradecanoic, pentadecanoic, hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids, and the 2‐ethylhexyl salicylate. We then tested the behavioural effects of the decanoic and pentadecanoic acids using binary‐choice experiments, along with the (Z)‐9‐tricosene, a pheromone found in many arthropods. The time spent by a larva and its average crawling speed were measured in two sides of an arena, where only one contained a compound at 0.25 or 25 μg/μl. No effect was observed when testing the decanoic acid. The pentadecanoic acid only reduced the speed of C. vomitoria larvae at 25 μg/μl. Finally, L. sericata larvae spent less time in the side containing the (Z)‐9‐tricosene at 0.25 μg/μl, whereas C. vomitoria spent more time and crawled faster in this side at 25 μg/μl. Although these results did not directly evidence synomones, they suggest that the (Z)‐9‐tricosene could regulate larval aggregations on carrion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In epidemiological studies, dairy food consumption has been associated with minimal effect or decreased risk of some cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). However, current methods of dietary assessment do not provide objective and accurate measures of food intakes. Thus, the identification of valid and reliable biomarkers of dairy product intake is an important challenge to best determine the relationship between dairy consumption and health status. This review investigated potential biomarkers of dairy fat consumption, such as odd-chain, trans- and branched-chain fatty acids (FA), which may improve the assessment of full-fat dairy product consumption. Overall, the current use of serum/plasma FA as biomarkers of dairy fat consumption is mostly based on observational evidence, with a lack of well-controlled, dose–response intervention studies to accurately assess the strength of the relationship. Circulating odd-chain SFA and trans-palmitoleic acid are increasingly studied in relation to CMD risk and seem to be consistently associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in prospective cohort studies. However, associations with CVD are less clear. Overall, adding less studied FA such as vaccenic and phytanic acids to the current available evidence may provide a more complete assessment of dairy fat intake and minimise potential confounding from endogenous synthesis. Finally, the current evidence base on the direct effect of dairy fatty acids on established biomarkers of CMD risk (e.g. fasting lipid profiles and markers of glycaemic control) mostly derives from cross-sectional, animal and in vitro studies and should be strengthened by well-controlled human intervention studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence has proved the close association between alterations in gut microbiota and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the potential roles of gut microbiota in regulating oxaliplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer (GC) have not been investigated before. We first found that antibiotic treatment diminished the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin in a GC mouse model. Importantly, this effect could be transmitted to germ-free mice via fecal microbiota transplantation, indicating a potential role of gut microbiota modulation in oxaliplatin efficacy. Further, metagenomics data showed that Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) ranked first among the bacterial species with decreased relative abundances after antibiotic treatment. Metabolically active A. muciniphila promotes oxaliplatin efficacy. As shown by metabolomics analysis, the metabolic pattern of gut microbiota was disrupted with significantly downregulated levels of pentadecanoic acid (PEA), and the use of PEA significantly promoted oxaliplatin efficacy. Mechanistically, FUBP1 positively regulated aerobic glycolysis of GC cells to hinder the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin. A. muciniphila -derived PEA functioned as an inhibitory factor of glycolysis by directly antagonizing the activity of FUBP1, which potentiated GC responses to oxaliplatin. Our research suggested a key role for intestinal A. muciniphila and its metabolite PEA in promoting oxaliplatin efficacy, thus providing a new perspective for probiotic and prebiotic intervention in GC patients during chemotherapy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an essential odd-chain saturated fatty acid with broad activities relevant to protecting cardiometabolic, immune, and liver health. C15:0 activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR, both of which are core components of the human longevity pathway. To assess the potential for C15:0 to enhance processes associated with longevity and healthspan, we used human cell-based molecular phenotyping assays to compare C15:0 with three longevity-enhancing candidates: acarbose, metformin, and rapamycin. C15:0 (n = 36 activities in 10 of 12 cell systems) and rapamycin (n = 32 activities in 12 of 12 systems) had the most clinically relevant, dose-dependent activities. At their optimal doses, C15:0 (17 µM) and rapamycin (9 µM) shared 24 activities across 10 cell systems, including anti-inflammatory (e.g., lowered MCP-1, TNFα, IL-10, IL-17A/F), antifibrotic, and anticancer activities, which are further supported by previously published in vitro and in vivo studies. Paired with prior demonstrated abilities for C15:0 to target longevity pathways, hallmarks of aging, aging rate biomarkers, and core components of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, our results support C15:0 as an essential nutrient with activities equivalent to, or surpassing, leading longevity-enhancing candidate compounds.

Estrogen receptors are indicators of breast cancer adaptability to endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen. Deficiency or absence of estrogen receptor α (ER−α) in breast cancer cells results in reduced efficacy of endocrine therapy. Here, we investigated the effect of combined tamoxifen and pentadecanoic acid therapy on ER−α−under−expressing breast cancer cells. Drug resistance gene expression patterns were determined by RNA sequencing analysis and in vitro experiments. For the first time, we demonstrate that the combined treatment of pentadecanoic acid, an odd−chain fatty acid, and tamoxifen synergistically suppresses the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF−7 stem cells (MCF−7/SCs), which were found to be tamoxifen−resistant and showed reduced ER−α expression compared with the parental MCF−7 cells. In addition, the combined treatment synergistically induced apoptosis and accumulation of sub−G1 cells and suppressed epithelial−to−mesenchymal transition (EMT). Exposure to this combination induces re−expression of ER−α at the transcriptional and protein levels, along with suppression of critical survival signal pathways, such as ERK1/2, MAPK, EGFR, and mTOR. Collectively, decreased ER−α expression was restored by pentadecanoic acid treatment, resulting in reversal of tamoxifen resistance. Overall, pentadecanoic acid exhibits the potential to enhance the efficacy of endocrine therapy in the treatment of ER−α−under−expressing breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0, PDA) is an odd and minor fatty acid that has been neglected in the literature until the last decade. Indeed, as a specific fatty acid of dairy fat, PDA was only used as a biomarker of dairy fat consumption. Lately, PDA was first correlated negatively with the incidence of metabolic syndrome disorder, then its physiological effects have been investigated as a protective fatty acid. PDA supplementation has been demonstrated as negatively correlated with elevated levels of leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and insulin, and has been shown to exhibit sensitizing insulin effects with activation of AMPK pathway. PDA also reduced the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), notably through reduced alanine transaminase and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. The final effect described for PDA is its ability to display anti-inflammatory properties in several pathology models. Hence, considering these multiple effects, the presence of PDA could be associated with a healthier physiological state, this raises the question of whether the presence of PDA in the body, in adequate quantities, is needed to participate to health maintenance. PDA is not synthesized in sufficient quantities endogenously, so it must be provided by the diet, mainly through dairy fat, although other types of food can also contribute to the dietary intake of PDA. Essential fatty acids are described as not being endogenously synthesized in sufficient and required quantities to maintain physiological health. Thus, PDA might gather both conditions to be described as essential, yet further investigations on both criteria are needed to enhance knowledge on this odd chain fatty acid with promising impact as potential protective supplement nutrient., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obesity and its associated comorbidities are major public health concerns for which nutrition is central to disease prevention and management. Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) has the potential for beneficial effects on obesity, but supplementation has not been studied in humans., Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate changes in plasma C15:0 levels after daily supplementation for 12 wk. Additionally, the study aimed to assess safety and tolerability as well as measure potential markers of physiologic response., Methods: This was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled, 2-arm trial of 200 mg C15:0 or placebo daily for 12 wk in young adults with overweight or obesity., Results: A total of 30 participants with a mean age of 20.0 ± 2.1 y and a mean body mass index of 33.4 ± 5.3 kg/m 2 were included. In total, 20 participants received C15:0 supplement and 10 received placebo. The mean increase in circulating C15:0 for the treatment group was 1.88 μg/mL greater than that of the placebo group (P = 0.003). No significant adverse events occurred. Half of the participants in the treatment group had a posttreatment C15:0 level >5 μg/mL. In these individuals, there were significantly greater decreases in alanine aminotransferase (-29 U/L, P = 0.001) and aspartate aminotransferase (-6 U/L, P = 0.014), as well as a greater increase in hemoglobin (0.60 g/dL, P = 0.010), as compared with participants that did not reach a posttreatment level >5 μg/mL., Conclusions: Daily C15:0 supplementation increased circulating C15:0 levels in young adults with overweight or obesity. End-of-treatment C15:0 >5 μg/mL was associated with potentially relevant improvements in clinical indices, warranting further study. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04947176., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Epidemiological studies found that the intake of dairy products is associated with an increased amount of circulating odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA, C15:0 and C17:0) in humans and further indicate that especially C17:0 is associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, causal relationships are not elucidated. To provide a mechanistic link, mice were fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with either milk fat or C17:0 for 20 weeks. Cultured primary mouse hepatocytes were used to distinguish differential effects mediated by C15:0 or C17:0. Despite an induction of OCFA after both dietary interventions, neither long-term milk fat intake nor C17:0 supplementation improved diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in mice. HF feeding with milk fat actually deteriorates liver inflammation. Treatment of primary hepatocytes with C15:0 and C17:0 suppressed JAK2/STAT3 signaling, but only C15:0 enhanced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT. Overall, the data indicate that the intake of milk fat and C17:0 do not mediate health benefits, whereas C15:0 might be promising in further studies.

Background: Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) generally have been thought to worsen insulin-resistance and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, accumulating evidence has revealed that SFAs are not a single homogeneous group, instead different SFAs are associated with T2DM in opposing directions. Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0, PA) is directly correlated with dairy products, and a negative association between circulating PA and metabolic disease risk was observed in epidemiological studies. Therefore, the role of PA in human health needs to be reinforced. Whether PA has a direct benefit on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity needs further investigation. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of action of PA on basal and insulin stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Glucose uptake was determined using a 2-(N-[7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl] amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) uptake assay. Cell membrane proteins were isolated and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein was detected by western blotting to examine the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. The phosphorylation levels of proteins involved in the insulin and 5’-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways were examined by western blotting. Results: We found that PA significantly promoted glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. PA had no effect on the insulin-dependent pathway involving insulin receptor substrate 1 (Tyr632) and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), but increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160). Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) blocked PA-induced AMPK activation and reversed PA-induced GLUT4 translocation, indicating that PA promotes glucose uptake via the AMPK pathway in vitro. Moreover, PA significantly promoted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in myotubes. Under insulin stimulation, PA did not affect the insulin-dependent pathway, but still activated AMPK. Conclusion: PA, an odd-chain SFA, significantly stimulates glucose uptake via the AMPK-AS160 pathway and exhibits an insulin-sensitizing effect in myotubes.

Abstract Background Circulating odd-chain fatty acids pentadecanoic (15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (17:0) are considered to reflect dairy intake. In cohort studies, higher circulating 15:0 and 17:0 were associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk. A recent randomized controlled trial in humans suggested that fiber intake also increased circulating 15:0 and 17:0, potentially resulting from fermentation by gut microbes. We examined the associations of dairy and fiber intake with circulating 15:0 and 17:0 in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods We performed cross-sectional analyses in a subsample of 869 Dutch post-MI patients of the Alpha Omega Cohort who had data on dietary intake and circulating fatty acids. Dietary intakes (g/d) were assessed using a 203-item food frequency questionnaire. Circulating 15:0 and 17:0 (as % of total fatty acids) were measured in plasma phospholipids (PL) and cholesteryl esters (CE). Spearman correlations (r s ) were computed between intakes of total dairy, dairy fat, fiber, and circulating 15:0 and 17:0. Results Patients were on average 69 years old, 78% was male and 21% had diabetes. Total dairy intake comprised predominantly milk and yogurt (69%). Dairy fat was mainly derived from cheese (47%) and milk (15%), and fiber was mainly from grains (43%). Circulating 15:0 in PL was significantly correlated with total dairy and dairy fat intake (both r s = 0.19, p

Estrogen receptors are indicators of breast cancer adaptability to endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen. Deficiency or absence of estrogen receptor α (ER−α) in breast cancer cells results in reduced efficacy of endocrine therapy. Here, we investigated the effect of combined tamoxifen and pentadecanoic acid therapy on ER−α−under−expressing breast cancer cells. Drug resistance gene expression patterns were determined by RNA sequencing analysis and in vitro experiments. For the first time, we demonstrate that the combined treatment of pentadecanoic acid, an odd−chain fatty acid, and tamoxifen synergistically suppresses the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF−7 stem cells (MCF−7/SCs), which were found to be tamoxifen−resistant and showed reduced ER−α expression compared with the parental MCF−7 cells. In addition, the combined treatment synergistically induced apoptosis and accumulation of sub−G1 cells and suppressed epithelial−to−mesenchymal transition (EMT). Exposure to this combination induces re−expression of ER−α at the transcriptional and protein levels, along with suppression of critical survival signal pathways, such as ERK1/2, MAPK, EGFR, and mTOR. Collectively, decreased ER−α expression was restored by pentadecanoic acid treatment, resulting in reversal of tamoxifen resistance. Overall, pentadecanoic acid exhibits the potential to enhance the efficacy of endocrine therapy in the treatment of ER−α−under−expressing breast cancer cells.

Background: Weight loss is the most effective treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There is evidence that the Mediterranean diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids and fiber have beneficial effects on weight homeostasis and metabolic risk factors in individuals with NAFLD. Studies have also shown that higher circulating concentrations of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) are associated with a lower risk for NAFLD., Objectives: To examine the effects of a Mediterranean-like, culturally contextualized Asian diet rich in fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, with or without C15:0 supplementation, in Chinese females with NAFLD., Methods: In a double-blinded, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial, 88 Chinese females with NAFLD were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups for 12 wk: diet with C15:0 supplementation (n = 31), diet without C15:0 supplementation (n = 28), or control (habitual diet and no C15:0 supplementation, n = 29). At baseline and after the intervention, body fat percentage, intrahepatic lipid content, muscle and abdominal fat, liver enzymes, cardiometabolic risk factors, and gut microbiome were assessed., Results: In the intention-to-treat analysis, weight reductions of 4.0 ± 0.5 kg (5.3%), 3.4 ± 0.5 kg (4.5%), and 1.5 ± 0.5 kg (2.1%) were achieved in the diet-with-C15:0, diet without-C15:0, and the control groups, respectively. The proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the liver decreased by 33%, 30%, and 10%, respectively. Both diet groups achieved significantly greater reductions in body weight, liver PDFF, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and triglyceride concentrations compared with the control group. C15:0 supplementation reduced LDL-cholesterol further, and increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (deep and superficial), insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure decreased significantly in all groups, in parallel with weight loss., Conclusion: Mild weight loss induced by a Mediterranean-like diet adapted for Asians has multiple beneficial health effects in females with NAFLD. C15:0 supplementation lowers LDL-cholesterol and may cause beneficial shifts in the gut microbiome., Trial Registration Number: This trial was registered at the clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05259475., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article. FM is a member of AJCN’s editorial board but played no role in the editorial handling of the manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Background Odd chain fatty acids (odd FAs) have a wide range of applications in therapeutic and nutritional industries, as well as in chemical industries including biofuel. Yarrowia lipolytica is an oleaginous yeast considered a preferred microorganism for the production of lipid-derived biofuels and chemicals. However, it naturally produces negligible amounts of odd chain fatty acids. Results The possibility of producing odd FAs using Y. lipolytica was investigated. Y. lipolytica wild-type strain was shown able to grow on weak acids; acetate, lactate, and propionate. Maximal growth rate on propionate reached 0.24 ± 0.01 h−1 at 2 g/L, and growth inhibition occurred at concentration above 10 g/L. Wild-type strain accumulated lipids ranging from 7.39 to 8.14% (w/w DCW) depending on the carbon source composition, and odd FAs represented only 0.01–0.12 g/L. We here proved that the deletion of the PHD1 gene improved odd FAs production, which reached a ratio of 46.82% to total lipids. When this modification was transferred to an obese strain, engineered for improving lipid accumulation, further increase odd FAs production reaching a total of 0.57 g/L was shown. Finally, a fed-batch co-feeding strategy was optimized for further increase odd FAs production, which generated 0.75 g/L, the best production described so far in Y. lipolytica. Conclusions A Y. lipolytica strain able to accumulate high level of odd chain fatty acids, mainly heptadecenoic acid, has been successfully developed. In addition, a fed-batch co-feeding strategy was optimized to further improve lipid accumulation and odd chain fatty acid content. These lipids enriched in odd chain fatty acid can (1) improve the properties of the biodiesel generated from Y. lipolytica lipids and (2) be used as renewable source of odd chain fatty acid for industrial applications. This work paves the way for further improvements in odd chain fatty acids and fatty acid-derived compound production.

Copyright of Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal / İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciene Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Odd-carbon fatty acids have been utilized for anaplerotic therapy for lifestyle-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. We examined the culture condition of Aurantiochytrium for the production of pentadecanoic acid (C15) as an odd-carbon fatty acid, and demonstrated a produce method for odd-carbon fatty acid–enriched triglyceride. To determine the optimum conditions for C15 production, selection of effective components and their respective concentrations in the culture medium, choice of the suitable Aurantiochytrium strain, and determination of the optimum culture pH were performed. The optimum conditions for the production of C15 were found to be as follows: Strain: Aurantiochytrium sp. strain SA-96 Medium composition: 0.2% yeast extract 0.5% monosodium glutamate, 1.0% sea salt, 50 mM L-Val, 25 mM sodium propionate, 3.6% glucose, and 10% soy milk whey. Culture system: Airlift culture vessels (5.0 L) and pH controller were used. Sodium hydroxide (1.0 M) solution was used for pH adjustment. Other parameters were as follows: medium volume, 3.0 L; air supply, 1.2 vvm; temperature, 23.5–26.6 °C; pH, 7.40–7.74; culture period, 72 h. The yield of odd-carbon fatty acids (C15, 85% of odd FA) was 1.04 g L−1. Preparation of odd-carbon fatty acid–enriched triglyceride: Triglyceride was isolated from the extracted lipids from cultured cells and treated with ozone/hydrogen peroxide. By removing of carboxylic acid containing triglyceride, the odd-carbon fatty acid and C15 contents of the resultant triglyceride reached to 72.3 and 60.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: A higher dairy product intake has been associated to higher blood concentrations of 15:0 (pentadecanoic acid), 17:0 (margaric acid), and 14:0 (myristic acid). This study investigates whether a diet high in dairy products influences cholesteryl ester fatty acid concentrations of these specific fatty acids (FA).Methods and Results: In a randomized multiple cross-over study, 13 men and 17 women aged 22 ± 4 years with a BMI of 21.6 ± 2.2 kg/m2 received 3 isocaloric intervention diets (dairy, meat or grain) in random order. For this post-hoc analysis, FA in plasma cholesteryl esters were measured using gas chromatography. We performed a linear mixed model per centered log-ratio transformed FA, adjusting for period, and the interaction between diet and period. Consumed total fat intake per controlled intervention diet was 31.0 ± 0.9 en%/day (dairy), 31.5 ± 0.6 en%/day (meat), and 28.4 ± 1.2 en%/day (grain), respectively. The dairy diet led to higher relative concentrations of 15:0 when compared to diets high in meat and grain, (β; 0.27, 95%CI: 0.18,0.37; p = 1.2 × 10-5, and β: 0.15; 95%CI: 0.06,0.24; p = 1.2 × 10-2, respectively). The dairy diet also led to higher 14:0 when compared to the meat diet (β: 0.34; 95%CI: 0.21,0.46; p = 6.0 × 10-5), but not when compared to the grain diet. 17:0 did not differ between diets.Conclusion: The plasma cholesteryl ester fraction after a diet high in dairy was characterized by higher 15:0 levels. Concentrations of 14:0 were only higher when comparing the FA profile after a diet high in dairy when compared to a diet high in meat.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01314040. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus epidermidis is well known to be one of the major causes of infections related to medical devices, mostly due to its strong capacity to form device-associated biofilms. Nowadays, these infections represent a severe burden to the public health system and the necessity of novel antibacterial strategies for the treatment of these difficult-to-eradicate infections is urgent. The Antarctic marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 was found to be able to produce an anti-biofilm molecule, the pentadecanal, active against S. epidermidis. In this work, we modified one of the most widely used silicone-based polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), by adsorption of pentadecanal and its most promising derivative, pentadecanoic acid, on the PDMS surface. The biofilm formation of S. epidermidis RP62A on both untreated and modified PDMS was performed in a parallel plate flow chamber system, demonstrating the capability of the proposed anti-biofilm coatings to strongly reduce the biofilm formation. Furthermore, drug-release capacity and long-term efficacy (21 days) were also proven for the pentadecanoic acid coating. The coating obtained by adsorption of pentadecanal and pentadecanoic acid on PDMS reduces the bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gasification of pentadecanoic acid without the catalyst was performed in supercritical water by using quartz reactors. It was investigated that effects of temperature from 400 to 500 °C, mass loading of 5–20 wt%, and reaction time of 30–75 min on the production of H 2 , CH 4 , CO, CO 2 and C 2 H 4 from supercritical water gasification. High CH 4 yield of 6.50 mmol/g was obtained at 500 °C, 5 wt% pentadecanoic acid and 75 min without any catalyst. The results also showed that the yield of all gas species increased with temperature, and decreased with the rising mass loading; most gas yields increased with the reaction time, except the C 2 H 4 yield got to a maximum at the reaction time of 45–60 min above 500 °C with the all mass loadings (5–20 wt%), and the CO 2 yield almost remained constant above 500 °C with the all mass loadings (5–20 wt%) after 45 min reaction time. The sequence of the influence on gas yield was: temperature > reaction time > mass loading. The manipulation of reaction temperature and time offered us an efficient way to control the product selectivity, since the amounts of valuable gas components such as H 2 , CH 4 and C 2 H 4 were strongly attached to these two process variables. Unlabelled Image • The gasification of pentadecanoic acid was performed in supercritical water. • Higher CH 4 yield was obtained at 500 °C, 5 wt% pentadecanoic acid and 75 min without any catalyst. • The effect of reaction condition on the production of gas was investigated. • Temperature was the most important factor to gas yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blaps rynchopetera Fairmaire with the extensive pharmacological activities is a medicinal insect. In the present study, a GC-MS method combined molecular docking was developed for exploring the active component in the low-polarity extract against α-amylase from Blaps rynchopetera. As a result, 20 compounds were identified in this extract by GC-MS. Among them, although the relative content of 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)- was the highest, its binding energy was significantly higher than that of pentadecanoic acid (−4.11 kcal/mol) with the relative content of 0.03%. Pentadecanoic acid was completely wrapped in the active site of α-amylase and interacted with amino acid residues Trp 58, Trp 59, Tyr 62, Gln 63, His 101, Leu 162, Leu 165, Asp 197, Ala 198, Ser 199, Lys 200, His 201, Glu 233, Val 234, Ile 235, Asp 300 and His 305 through the van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces. The results indicated that pentadecanoic acid possessed the α-amylase inhibitory activity and it was the potential hypoglycemic component in the low-polarity extract of Blaps rynchopetera Fairmaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Madang gatal (Schima wallichii) Choisy is one of typical Indonesian plants that used traditionally as insomnia and hypertension drug. Background: The environment is highly polluted by free radicals which may contribute to the aging process of tissue and cause chronic diseases. The aims of the research were to study the phytochemical constituents and free radical scavenging activity of Schima wallichii stem bark. Materials and Methods: Extraction of S.wallichii stem bark was carried out by maceration method using methanol and then the methanol extract was partitioned using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol successively. The methanol extract was then screened to determine the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to silica column chromatography followed by exclusion chromatography on sephadex LH-20 to yield two partially purified isolates, SA and SE4. FTIR and GC-MS analyses indicated SA asa mixture of pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester and patchouli alcohol, while SE4 was made up predominantly of pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, 13-hydroxy methyl ester. Free radical scavenging activity was performed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical oxidation method. Results: The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenes and quinones. All tested samples, methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts showed strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 8.58, 17.36, 8.17 and 8.79 μg/mL, respectively. The isolates showed strong antioxidant activity with SE4 exhibiting an IC50 value of about 5.5 times stronger than quercetin used as a standard antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a harmless human skin colonizer, is a significant nosocomial pathogen in predisposed hosts because of its capability to form a biofilm on indwelling medical devices. In a recent paper, the purification and identification of the pentadecanal produced by the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125, able to impair S. epidermidis biofilm formation, were reported. Here the authors report on the chemical synthesis of pentadecanal derivatives, their anti-biofilm activity on S. epidermidis, and their action in combination with antibiotics. The results clearly indicate that the pentadecanal derivatives were able to prevent, to a different extent, biofilm formation and that pentadecanoic acid positively modulated the antimicrobial activity of the vancomycin. The cytotoxicity of these new anti-biofilm molecules was tested on two different immortalized eukaryotic cell lines in view of their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saturated fatty acids possess few health benefits compared to unsaturated fatty acids. However, increasing experimental evidence demonstrates the nutritionally beneficial role of odd-chain saturated fatty acids in human health. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of pentadecanoic acid were evaluated in human breast carcinoma MCF-7/stem-like cells (SC), a cell line with greater mobility, invasiveness, and cancer stem cell properties compared to the parental MCF-7 cells. Pentadecanoic acid exerted selective cytotoxic effects in MCF-7/SC compared to in the parental cells. Moreover, pentadecanoic acid reduced the stemness of MCF-7/SC and suppressed the migratory and invasive ability of MCF-7/SC as evidenced by the results of flow cytometry, a mammosphere formation assay, an aldehyde dehydrogenase activity assay, and Western blot experiments conducted to analyze the expression of cancer stem cell markers—CD44, β-catenin, MDR1, and MRP1—and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers—snail, slug, MMP9, and MMP2. In addition, pentadecanoic acid suppressed interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling, induced cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase, and promoted caspase-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7/SC. These findings indicate that pentadecanoic acid can serve as a novel JAK2/STAT3 signaling inhibitor in breast cancer cells and suggest the beneficial effects of pentadecanoic acid-rich food intake during breast cancer treatments.