Decanoic acid (None commonly used (sometimes "C10:0" in lipid nomenclature))

Decanoic acid (capric acid) is a saturated fatty acid with a 10-carbon backbone (C10H20O2), typically present in coconut oil (∼10%), palm kernel oil (∼4%), and milk from cows, goats, and other mammals. It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature and has a characteristic rancid or fatty odor. Decanoic acid is mostly used in cosmetic and food industries as an emollient, surfactant, and antimicrobial agent, and as an intermediate in the synthesis of esters for fragrances/flavors. It is not a receptor, enzyme, transporter, or classical drug target, but is an important component within lipid metabolism and formulation sciences. Decanoic acid is stable, non-toxic, insoluble in water, and can cause skin/eye irritation at high concentrations.

Other names

Capric acidn-Decanoic acidDecoic acidDecylic acidCaprinic acidCaprynic acid (note: usually refers to octanoic acid, but sometimes misused)Decanoate (for salts/esters)1-Decanoic acidNonane-1-carboxylic acid

Not applicable; decanoic acid is not a therapeutic target and does not have mechanisms of action in the traditional pharmacological sense. It may display *antibacterial* or *anti-inflammatory* activity as a molecule