Hydroxycinnamic acids (hydroxycinnamates) are a class of
aromatic acid
Aromatic acids are a type of aromatic compound. Included in that class are substances containing an aromatic ring and an organic acid functional group.
There are several categories of aromatic acids including:
*Phenolic acids: substances containin ...
s 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:
*
α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid
*
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
*
Cichoric acid
Chicoric acid (also known as cichoric acid) is a hydroxycinnamic acid, an organic compound of the phenylpropanoid class and occurs in a variety of plant species. It is a derivative of both caffeic acid and tartaric acid.
As a suitable marker for ...
*
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
*
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
*
Diferulic acids
Diferulic acids (also known as dehydrodiferulic acids) are organic compounds that have the general chemical formula C20H18O8, they are formed by dimerisation of ferulic acid. Curcumin and curcuminoids, though having a structure resembling diferul ...
*
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
Ferulic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative and a phenolic compound. It is an organic compound with the formula (CH3O)HOC6H3CH=CHCO2H. The name is derived from the genus '' Ferula'', referring to the giant fennel ('' Ferula communis''). Cl ...
(3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) – oats, rice, artichoke, orange, pineapple, apple, peanut
*
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
*
Caftaric acid
Caftaric acid is a non-flavonoid phenolic compound.
It is found in the juice of grapes (''Vitis vinifera'') and impacts the color of white wine.
It is an esterified phenolic acid, composed of caffeic acid, a hydroxycinnamate produced by plants ...
– grapes and wine,
mainly the
''trans'' isomer
*
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
*
Fertaric acid
Fertaric acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid found in wine and grapes. It is an ester formed from ferulic acid bound to tartaric acid.
It is a metabolite of caftaric acid
Caftaric acid is a non-flavonoid phenolic compound.
It is found in the juice ...
– grapes and wine, mainly the ''trans'' isomer
References
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