Phenylmercuric propionate is used as a paint preservative. In addition, it is used as a preservative in cosmetics. It was reported, that phenylmercuric propionate used to sterilize bed lines in a hospital laundry produced contact urticarial and asthma.

Dromostanolone Propionate (known by the brand names Masteron and Drolban) was invented by Syntex in 1959. About 10 years later it was released on the American market by Lilly as brand name Drolban. The drug was first approved in the USA for use as a treatment of female breast cancer. However, the profile of side-effects included pronouncement of male characteristics in women and when more effective breast cancer treatments came to market drostanolone was gradually phased out. No longer used clinically dromostanolone propionate became very popular in the bodybuilding community. Today dromostanolone propionate remains on the list of approved medications, but it is not being manufactured or sold by pharmaceutical companies. It is still produced illegally by underground labs for use in the bodybuilding community.

Propionic acid (PA), also known as propanoic acid, with chemical formula C3H6O2, is an organic acid used as a food additive and found naturally on the skin and in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a byproduct of fermentation reactions and is also produced industrially from ethylene or ethanol and carbon monoxide. Propionic acid is a fungicide and bactericide, registered to controlfungi and bacteria in stored grains, hay, grain storage areas, poultry litter,and drinking water for livestock and poultry. As a food preservative, propionic acid prevents mold in bread and baked goods, and it is used as a flavoring agent in cheese and other packaged goods. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it safe and therefore, has no limitation on its use. It has been demonstrated that PA lowers fatty acids content in liver and plasma, reduces food intake, exerts immunosuppressive actions and probably improves tissue insulin sensitivity. Thus increased production of PA by the microbiota might be considered beneficial in the context of prevention of obesity and diabetes type 2. The molecular mechanisms by which PA may exert this plethora of physiological effects are slowly being elucidated and include intestinal cyclooxygenase enzyme, the G-protein coupled receptors 41 and 43 and activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, in turn inhibiting the sentinel transcription factor NF-κB and thus increasing the threshold for inflammatory responses in general. Taken together, PA emerges as a major mediator in the link between nutrition, gut microbiota and physiology. The sodium salt of propionic acid was previously approved in Canada as an active ingredient in Amino-Cerv (used to treat inflammation or injury of the cervix).

Calcium propionate (E282) is a preservative, antimould and antirope agent. Calcium propionate has been widely used as a preservative in bakery and in bread. The addition of 0.3 % calcium propionate prolonged the shelf-life of salt reduced bread to 10-12 days. It is sometimes not carefully used, or a high concentration is added to preserve products. High consumption of calcium propionate can lead to several health problems. Calcium propionate is used to prevent milk fever in cows and as a feed supplement. It is considered to be safe and effective treatment given for one or two days to prevent milk fever and/or to support treatment of milk fever. Calcium propionate is generally recognized as safe by FDA when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice.

Methylcyclopentenolone (also known as methyl cyclopentenolone), a flavor compound that is used in the standard olfactory acuity test in patients with smell disorders.