Chemicals and Drugs

Citric Acid

A key intermediate in metabolism. It is an acid compound found in citrus fruits. The salts of citric acid (citrates) can be used as anticoagulants due to their calcium chelating ability.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A key intermediate in metabolism. It is an acid compound found in citrus fruits. The salts of citric acid (citrates) can be used as anticoagulants due to their calcium chelating ability.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C6H8O7
Molecular Weight
192.12 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
77-92-9
IUPAC Name
2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
InChIKey
KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C(C(=O)O)C(CC(=O)O)(C(=O)O)O
MeSH Unique ID
D019343
Source
PubChem CID 311

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Anhydrous Citric Acid
  • Citrate
  • Citric Acid Monohydrate
  • Citric Acid, Anhydrous
  • Uralyt U

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not confuse entry term CITRATE with CITRATES

MeSH Record

History Note

1997 (1979)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Citrates (1979-1996)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 98

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Citric Acid. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D019343. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D019343
  2. Citric Acid. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid
  3. Citric Acid. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159683
  4. Citric Acid. In: PubChem Compound. CID 311. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/311