Description
Caffeic Acid is a natural organic compound with significant biological activities. As a phenolic acid, it has a distinct chemical structure, featuring a cinnamic acid backbone with two adjacent hydroxyl groups at the 3,4-positions. This structure endows it with multiple reactive sites, making it highly reactive and biologically active, thus drawing extensive scientific scrutiny.
Molecular Formula: C9H8O4
Molecular Weight: 180.16 g/mol
CAS No.: 331-39-5
EC No.: 206-361-2
Appearance: Yellow crystalline powder
Loss on drying: 0.24%
Heavy metals: ＜10ppm
Assay: 99.3%
Key Features:
1.Antioxidant Activity: Caffeic Acid is a potent antioxidant. It can effectively scavenge free radicals, such as superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxyl radicals, in the body. By doing so, it mitigates oxidative stress, safeguarding cells from damage, including DNA mutations, lipid peroxidation, and protein denaturation.
2.Anti-inflammatory Effects: It functions as an anti-inflammatory agent. Caffeic Acid inhibits the activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. This suppression helps to tone down the body's inflammatory response, which is beneficial for various inflammatory conditions.
3.Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Exhibiting antibacterial and antifungal capabilities, Caffeic Acid can disrupt the cell membranes of microorganisms, interfere with their metabolic pathways, and inhibit their growth. It shows inhibitory effects against a range of common pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.
4.Antitumoral Potential: Caffeic Acid has demonstrated antitumoral activity. It can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tumor cells, arrest the cell cycle at specific checkpoints, and inhibit angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels that tumors rely on for growth and metastasis.
Application:
1.Pharmaceutical Field: In medicine, Caffeic Acid is exploited for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and potentially antitumoral properties. It can be formulated into drugs or supplements for treating inflammatory diseases like arthritis, as well as being investigated for use in cancer adjuvant therapies to enhance the body's own defenses against tumors. Caffeic Acid derivatives are also studied for developing novel antibacterial medications.
2.Food Industry: As a natural antioxidant, Caffeic Acid is added to various food products. It helps to extend the shelf life of processed foods, such as baked goods, oils, and beverages, by preventing lipid oxidation and rancidity. Additionally, it can enhance the nutritional value of food due to its health-promoting bioactivities.
3.Cosmetics Sector: In the cosmetics industry, Caffeic Acid is incorporated into anti-aging skincare formulations. By virtue of its antioxidant and collagen-stimulating properties, it combats skin aging. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots, while also protecting the skin from environmental damage, like UV-induced oxidative stress, leaving the skin looking more youthful and radiant.