Evening primrose oil comes from the extraction from Oenothera biennis seeds and it is commonly used as an alternative source for omega-6 essential fatty acids. In its composition it presents... Evening primrose oil has been filled for the FDA by Humanetics Corporation on April 2000 to be a new dietary ingredient but its current status is "Inadequate basis for expectation of safety".
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Evening primrose oil presents a content of 74% DB00132 and 9% DB13854 from which the later seems to be the key active ingredient of this oil. These major essential fatty acids are required for the normal structure of cell membranes and they are not synthesized endogenously. The therapeutic activity of evening primrose oil is attributed to the direct action of its essential fatty acids on immune cells as well as to an indirect effect on the synthesis of eicosanoids. The actions of highly unsaturated fatty acids in tissues and eicosanoids are thought to be implicated in inflammatory and immunologic pathogeneses.
The essential fatty acids found in evening primrose oil are involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandin. For this activity, the main involved component is the DB13854. The presence of this essential fatty acid allows the synthesis of anti-inflammatory substances such as 15-hydroxy-eicosatrienoic acid and prostaglandin E1.
- Primary indication
- Evening primrose oil is used as part of over-the-counter dietary supplements.Curator reviewed · 1 structured indication
- First approval
- Canada, 1999
- Also known as
- Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil · Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) seed extract · Oenothera biennis l. oil · Oenothera biennis seed extract · Oenothera biennis seed oil
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 20, 2026
Which other approved drugs treat the same conditions as Evening primrose oil, and which companies have late-stage candidates in those indications?
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