Toxicity Profile for n-Octanoic acid and its sodium and potassium salts (1988)

Abstract

n-Octanoic acid (OA) and its sodium (NaOA) and potassium salts caused skin irritation in man and the acid was an eye irritant in rabbits. OA did not induce skin sensitization in volunteers. A low acute toxicity was seen with OA in rats treated orally and in rabbits treated dermally. Central nervous system effects resulted from single oral or injection administration of OA and NaOA to rats and mice and intravenous infusion of NaOA has been used to reproduce a particular type of brain dysfunction (hepatic encephalopathy) in rabbits and monkeys. A low toxic potential was demonstrated by OA in rats and mice given multiple oral doses through NaOA may have caused mild effects on the blood in rabbits. When the acid was fed as the triglyceride to rats through successive generations, an increase in mortality (probably related to nutritional factors) was seen in the offspring comprising the third generation. No adverse effects on the foetus followed injection of NaOA into pregnant mice. In a limited oral study, OA was not carcinogenic to rats and no evidence of mutagenicity was seen in bacteria (Ames test) or yeast.