Eicosanoid biosynthesis

Eicosanoid biosynthesis refers to the complex set of enzymatic pathways that convert polyunsaturated fatty acids—primarily arachidonic acid—into bioactive lipid mediators known as eicosanoids. The main enzymatic routes include cyclooxygenases (COX), lipoxygenases (LOX), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. These pathways generate prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, lipoxins, and other oxylipins that play critical roles in inflammation regulation, vascular tone control, immune responses, and various physiological processes. While these molecules are important therapeutic targets for diseases such as inflammation and asthma through their respective receptors or synthesizing enzymes, "eicosanoid biosynthesis" itself is a biological process rather than a discrete molecular target.