OCTANOIC ACID (Caprylic acid) eight-carbon saturated fatty acid belongs to the class of mediumchain saturated fatty acids. OCTANOIC ACID found naturally in the milk of various mammals, and as a minor constituent of coconut oil and palm kernel oil. Caprylic acid is used commercially in the production of esters used in perfumery and also in the manufacture of dyes. Caprylic acid is an antimicrobial pesticide used as a food contact surface sanitizer in commercial food handling establishments on dairy equipment, food processing equipment, breweries, wineries, and beverage processing plants. It is also used as disinfectant in health care facilities, schools/colleges, animal care/veterinary facilities, industrial facilities, office buildings, recreational facilities, retail and wholesale establishments, livestock premises, restaurants, and hotels/motels. In addition, caprylic acid is used as an algaecide, bactericide, and fungicide in nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and interiorscapes on ornamentals. Products containing caprylic acid are formulated as soluble concentrate/liquids and ready-to-use liquids.

Linoleic acid is a naturally occurring omega-6 essential fatty acid, present in a variety of foods, including the oils. Linoleic acid is a precursor for arachidonic acid biosynthesis; on the first enzymatic step of the pathway involves delta-6-desaturase, which converts linoleic acid to gamma-lenolenic acid. Linoleic acid has beneficial effects on human skin and hair. Replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid is advocated to improve serum lipoprotein profiles and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Linoleic acid was tested in clinical trilas as a possible remedy against multiple sclerosis.

Oleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that is the most widely distributed and abundant fatty acid in nature. It is used commercially in the preparation of oleates and lotions, and as a pharmaceutical solvent. Oleic acid occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats and oils. It is a component of the normal human diet as a part of animal fats and vegetable oils. Oleic acid may be responsible for the hypotensive (blood pressure reducing) effects of olive oil. Oleic acid has being shown to have a potential anticancer activity.

Stearic Acid is a typical example of a fatty acid, which are essentially long hydrocarbon chains containing a carboxyl group at one end and a methyl group at the other. The chain lengths can vary from 3 (propionic acid) to 24 (lignoceric acid) but the majority of fatty acids found in hydrogenated vegetable or animal oils are around C16-C20 in length. Stearic acid is a saturated acid, since there are no double bonds between neighbouring carbon atoms. Stearic acid is found in various animal and plant fats, and is a major component of cocoa butter and shea butter. Stearic acid is a very common amino acid is used in the manufacturing of more than 3,200 skin and hair care products sold in the United States. On product labels, it is sometimes listed under other names, including Century 1240, cetylacetic acid, Emersol 120, Emersol 132, Emersol 150, Formula 300 and Glycon DP. Stearic Acid is mainly used in the production of detergents, soaps, and cosmetics such as shampoos and shaving cream products. Stearic acid is used along with castor oil for preparing softeners in textile sizing. Being inexpensively available and chemically benign, stearic acid finds many niche applications It is used in the manufacture of candles, and as a hardener in candies when mixed with simple sugar and corn syrup. It is also used to produce dietary supplements. In fireworks, stearic acid is often used to coat metal powders such as aluminum and iron. This prevents oxidation, allowing compositions to be stored for a longer period of time. Stearic acid is a common lubricant during injection molding and pressing of ceramic powders. It is also used as a mold release for foam latex that is baked in stone molds. Stearic acid is known antidiabetic and antioxidant agent.

Butyric acid (butanoic acid) belongs to a group of short-chain fatty acids and is thought to play several beneficial roles in the gastrointestinal tract. The butyric anion is easily absorbed by enteric cells and used as a main source of energy. Moreover, butyric acid is an important regulator of colonocyte proliferation and apoptosis, gastrointestinal tract motility and bacterial microflora composition in addition to its involvement in many other processes including immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory activity. Butyric acid shows a protective effect in inflammatory response secondary to inflammatory bowel diseases. A beneficial effect of butyric acid as one constituent of a multifaceted mechanism modulating gastrointestinal function has also been stressed in patients with the stoma and coexisting constipation. Butyric acid supplementation combined with the use of probiotics should be adopted as one of the basic therapeutic strategies in this patient group, preceding treatment with laxatives. Sodium butyrate in the form of enemas (combined in a mixture with A-300 silicon dioxide) may be a successful method of therapeutic management in patients with radiation proctitis. Sodium butyrate may also prevent diarrhea through an increased passive absorption of water in the colon and its effects on the gut microflora.

Gamolenic acid also known as gamma-linolenic acid is a natural component of Oenothera biennis L. (Evening Primrose). Gamolenic acid was used for the treatment of breast painand atopic dermatitis in Europe, although now the drug is withdrawn from the market (there is no safety issue associated with the withdrawal of the licences). The mechanism of action of gamolenic acid is connected with its interaction with prostanoid pathway.

Palmitoleic acid, commonly known as omega-7, is a rare monounsatured fatty acid, which was generally reported to benefit the skin in promoting epithelialisation, and certain gynaecological problems (vaginal mycoses). Until now, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), a shrub widely found in Europe and Asia, and macadamia nuts have been the principal sources. Palmitoleic acid (PMA) has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities. Palmitoleic acid is a gap junction uncoupler.

Behenic acid is a saturated fatty acid that is derived from the oil extracts of plants and used as a component of conditioning agents. Behenic acid is also a part of a novel complex of lipophilic ingredients developed for the treatment of dry skin. The properties of behenic acid were studied in comparison to others fatty acids and it was found that behenic acid does not inhibit the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 enzyme. The high levels of behenic acid in patients with low-grade glial tumors is an important indicator of the persistence of tissue integrity and tissue resistance. Therefore, behenic acid levels can be a prognostic factor in glial tumors.

Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) is the hexadecyl ester of myristoleic acid. Whereas myristoleic acid is commonly found in fish oils, whale oils, and dairy butter, CMO is known to exist only naturally in sperm whale oil and in a small gland in the male beaver. Cetyl myristoleate is effective in alleviating knee pain in persons with mild degree arthritis of the knee joint.