Hydroxycinnamic acids (hydroxycinnamates) are a class of
aromatic acids or
phenylpropanoid
The phenylpropanoids are a diverse family of organic compounds that are biosynthesized by plants from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine in the shikimic acid pathway. Their name is derived from the six-carbon, aromatic phenyl group and ...
s having a C
6–C
3 skeleton. These compounds are hydroxy derivatives of
cinnamic acid
Cinnamic acid is an organic compound with the formula phenyl, C6H5-CH=CH-Carboxylic acid, COOH. It is a white crystalline compound that is slightly soluble in water, and freely soluble in many organic solvents. Classified as an unsaturated carboxy ...
.
In the category of
phytochemicals that can be found in food, there are:
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α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid
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Caffeic acid
Caffeic acid is an organic compound with the formula . It is a polyphenol with a key role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in energy metabolism. Caffeic acid is also one major polyphenol responsible for maintaining normal le ...
– burdock, hawthorn, artichoke, pear, basil, thyme, oregano, apple
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Cichoric acid
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Cinnamic acid
Cinnamic acid is an organic compound with the formula phenyl, C6H5-CH=CH-Carboxylic acid, COOH. It is a white crystalline compound that is slightly soluble in water, and freely soluble in many organic solvents. Classified as an unsaturated carboxy ...
– aloe
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Chlorogenic acid
Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is the ester of caffeic acid and quinic acid, functioning as an intermediate in lignin biosynthesis. The term chlorogenic acids refers to a related polyphenol family of esters, including hydroxycinnamic acids ( caffeic a ...
– echinacea, strawberries, pineapple, coffee, sunflower, blueberries
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Diferulic acids
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Coumaric acid Coumaric acid is a phenolic derivative of cinnamic acid having a hydroxy group as substituent at one of the aromatic
In organic chemistry, aromaticity is a chemical property describing the way in which a conjugated system, conjugated ring of un ...
*
Ferulic acid (3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) – oats, rice, artichoke, orange, pineapple, apple, peanut
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Sinapinic acid
Sinapinic acid, or sinapic acid (Sinapine - Origin: L. Sinapi, sinapis, mustard, Gr., cf. F. Sinapine.), is a small naturally occurring hydroxycinnamic acid. It is a member of the phenylpropanoid family. It is a commonly used matrix in MALDI mas ...
(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid or sinapic acid)
Hydroxycinnamoyltartaric acids
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Caftaric acid – grapes and wine,
mainly the
''trans'' isomer
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Coutaric acid
Coutaric acid is a hydroxycinnamoyltartaric acid found in wine, pomace and grape. It is an ester formed from coumaric acid and tartaric acid
Tartaric acid is a white, crystalline organic acid that occurs naturally in many fruits, most notably ...
– grapes and wine, both ''trans'' and ''cis'' isomers
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Fertaric acid – grapes and wine, mainly the ''trans'' isomer
References
{{aromatic-stub