p-Coumaric acid | |
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(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid |
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Other names
para-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid |
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Identifiers | |
CAS number | 7400-08-0 |
PubChem | 637542 |
ChemSpider | 553148 |
EC number | 231-000-0 |
DrugBank | DB04066 |
ChEBI | CHEBI:32374 |
ChEMBL | CHEMBL66879 |
Jmol-3D images | Image 1 Image 2 |
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Properties | |
Molecular formula | C9H8O3 |
Molar mass | 164.16 g mol−1 |
Exact mass | 164.047344 |
Melting point |
210–213 °C |
Hazards | |
R-phrases | R36/37/38 |
S-phrases | S24/25 |
(verify) (what is: / ?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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Infobox references |
Coumaric acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid, an organic compound that is a hydroxy derivative of cinnamic acid. There are three isomers, o-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, and p-coumaric acid, that differ by the position of the hydroxy substitution of the phenyl group. p-Coumaric acid is the most abundant isomer of the three in nature.
Together with sinapyl alcohol and coniferyl alcohols, p-coumaric acid is a major component of lignocellulose. It is biosynthesized from cinnamic acid by the action of the P450-dependent enzyme 4-cinnamic acid hydroxylase.
p-Coumaric acid can be found in a wide variety of edible plants such as peanuts, tomatoes, carrots, and garlic. It is a crystalline solid that is slightly soluble in water, but well soluble in ethanol and diethyl ether.
p-Coumaric acid has antioxidant properties and is believed to reduce the risk of stomach cancer[1] by reducing the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines.[2]
p-Coumaric acid is the precursor of 4-ethylphenol produced by the yeast Brettanomyces in wine. The yeast converts this to 4-vinylphenol via the enzyme cinnamate decarboxylase.[3] 4-Vinylphenol is further reduced to 4-ethylphenol by the enzyme vinyl phenol reductase. Coumaric acid is sometimes added to microbiological media, enabling the positive identification of Brettanomyces by smell.
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