People use it as medicine. Lauric acid is used for treating viral infections including influenza (the flu); swine flu; avian flu; the common cold; fever blisters, cold sores, and genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV); genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV); and HIV/AIDS.

Why is lauric acid important?

Lauric acid is a powerful substance that's sometimes extracted from the coconut for use in developing monolaurin. Monolaurin is an antimicrobial agent that's able to fight pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts.

Is lauric acid harmful?

Lauric acid is an inexpensive, non-toxic and safe to handle compound often used in laboratory investigations of melting-point depression. Lauric acid is a solid at room temperature but melts easily in boiling water, so liquid lauric acid can be treated with various solutes and used to determine their molecular masses.