A medium-chain saturated fatty acid; a non-competitive antagonist at AMPA receptors; selectively reduces glutamate-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing GluA2/3 subunit-containing AMPA receptors (IC50 = 0.52 mM) over those expressing GluA1 (IC50 = 2.09 mM) or GluA1/2 subunits (IC50 = 1.16 mM); inhibits epileptiform activity induced by pentylenetetrazole or low magnesium in rat hippocampal slices; induces contractions in isolated guinea pig duodenum at 1 mM; increases the escape threshold in an orofacial mechanical stimulation test in rats when administered as a 30% topical ointment; plasma levels of decanoic acid are increased in patients with colorectal cancer when compared to patients with breast cancer or ulcerative colitis or without cancer