2-Furoic acid (Furan-2-carboxylic acid) reduces serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and exhibits anti-lipidemic effects.

Agar that contains trace amounts of 5-HMFA and Furan-2-carboxylic acid inhibits the proliferation of some slow-growing or difficult-to-culture bacteria on the plates[1].

2-Furoic acid selectively inhibited bone resorbing activities of osteoclasts and prevented bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency but did not affect bone formation. 2-Furoic acid, an orally active selective human cathepsin K inhibitor, may have the therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive bone loss including osteoporosis[2].

The inhibitory effects of 5-HMFA, FA, and a mixture of the furan-2-carboxylic acids on the swarming and swimming of P. collierea V5-G'5 were assayed on MW solid medium (pH 6.0) containing 0.3% washed agar. The concentrations of these compounds were determined by the concentrations found in 0.3% agar plates (1×), and a series of two fold dilutions ranging from 0.125× to 8× was tested. As 5-HMFA and FA remained in the washed agar at concentrations of 0.07 and 0.12 μg g?1 agar, respectively, the 0.3% agar medium supplemented with 0.125× furan-2-carboxylic acids, contained 0.32 ng mL?1 and 0.51 ng mL?1 FA, respectively[1].

When given orally twice daily for 4 weeks to 3-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) rats, Furan-2-carboxylic acid dose-dependently prevented bone loss, as monitored by bone densitometry, ash content, and urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline.?No change in serum osteocalcin in the OVX rats by Furan-2-carboxylic acid suggested that bone formation might not be affected by the agent[2].