Quinic Acid
Product Data Sheet
Safety Data Sheet
Introduction
Quinic Acid (CAS-No. 77-95-2) is a well-known member of the chiral pool. It occurs in various plants, fruits as well as vegetables and is the biosynthetic precursor of shikimic acid and thus part of the shikimate pathway. Important branchpoints of this pathway are phenolic acids such as gallic aicd and also chorismic acid and a wide variety of medicinal natural products containing amino groups.
As a natural compound it is found in various plant products like aronia berries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrant, cranberries, tobacco leaves, carrot leaves etc. and Cinchona bark.
Pharmaceutical Application
A pharmaceutical application of quinic acid is the synthesis of Tamiflu® (oseltamivir, GS4104) which is a neuraminidase inhibitor of influenza viruses (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 681) and used for the oral treatment of all common influenza viruses (type A and B).
Quinic acid and its derivatives are considered beneficial for human health, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Synonyms
Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid,1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-, (1α,3R,4α,5R)- and (1S,3R,4S,5R)-1,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid