Kalmar "alcapton" yawanci ana amfani da ita don nufin wani sinadari mai suna "homogentisic acid." Homogentisic acid wani fili ne na kwayoyin halitta wanda aka samar ta hanyar rushewar amino acid tyrosine da phenylalanine a cikin jiki. Lokacin da acid din homogentisic acid ba a daidaita shi da kyau ba, yana iya haɓakawa a cikin jiki kuma yana haifar da wani yanayi mai wuyar gaske wanda ake kira alkaptonuria, wanda ke da duhun fitsari, ciwon haɗin gwiwa, da sauran matsalolin lafiya.