Title:p-Coumaric Acid: A Naturally Occurring Chemical with Potential Therapeutic
Applications
Volume: 26
Issue: 14
Author(s): Jasleen Kaur*Ramandeep Kaur
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
Keywords:
Polyphenols, hydroxycinnamic acids, lignocellulosic biomass, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-melanogenic, anticancer.
Abstract: Coumaric acid is a hydroxy derivative of cinnamic acid with three different isomers
(ortho, meta and para). Its most commonly available form is p-coumaric acid. p-Coumaric acid
i.e., 4-hydroxycinnamic acid is a potent phenolic compound found to exist naturally in various
plants, cereals, fruits and vegetables. It is one of the major constituent compounds of phenolic
polymer lignin in lignocellulosic materials. Various natural and synthetic derivatives of pcoumaric
acid have been reported in the literature. Different extraction methods including
conventional methods such as solvent extraction, acidification, alkaline extraction etc. and
recent approaches such as the clip-off method, sugaring out method, soft microwave extraction
etc. for its qualitative and quantitative determination in various plant materials have been investigated
by various researchers. This paper has discussed the synthesis of various derivatives
of p-coumaric acid such as amides, esters, aldehydes, polymers, and copolymers. p-Coumaric acid and its derivatives
have been found to possess different bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiarthritic,
anti-inflammatory, gout prevention, anti-diabetic, anti-melanogenic, skin regeneration, gastroprotective,
anti-ulcer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, reno-protective, bone formation, anti-angiogenic and anti-platelet etc.
Owing to this huge bioactive potential, p-coumaric acid could be incorporated in edible food products, pharmaceutical
products, cosmetics, etc. More studies are required to evaluate their compatability in these products. To the
best of our knowledge, this is the first review discussing natural occurrence, extraction, natural derivatives, synthesis
of various derivatives and therapeutic applications of p-coumaric acid.