What is Shikimic Acid？

Shikimic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid) is a naturally occurring organic compound that is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of lignin, aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan), and most plant and microbial alkaloids.

Shikimic acid is commonly used as a starting material for the industrial synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (an anti-H5N1 influenza virus drug used to treat and prevent all known strains of influenza viruses). The synthesis of (-)-zeylenone based on Shikimic Acid has been reported to be widely used as an agent for cancer chemotherapy. Data are available on the synthesis of monopalmitoyloxy Shikimic Acid, which has anticoagulant activity and is capable of reducing blood coagulability when administered intramuscularly. A Chinese research team synthesized a Shikimic Acid derivative, triacetyl Shikimic Acid, which exhibits anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity.

In addition, Shikimic Acid derivatives have shown great interest in agriculture as many of them are used as herbicides and antimicrobial agents because they can block the Shikimic Acid pathway in plants and bacteria without negatively affecting mammals.

Thus, Shikimic Acid can be used as a reactant for organic synthesis in both basic science and medical applications in organic chemistry and medicine, especially for the preparation of various drugs.

As an important pharmaceutical chemical material, shikimic acid can be applied to the treatment of many diseases：

1. Antibacterial and antitumor

In 1987, Japanese scholars found that the analog of glyoxalase I inhibitor synthesized by methyl anthranilate has obvious inhibitory effect on Hela cell line and Escheri ascites carcinoma, can prolong the survival time of mice inoculated with leukemia cell L1210, and the toxicity is relatively low, its inhibitory effect is mainly related to the sulfur hydride reaction. 1988, Chinese scholars have In 1988, Chinese scholars have synthesized a shikimic acid derivative and proved that this compound has the effect of inhibiting leukemia cells L1210 in vitro.

2. Anti-thrombosis

The effect of shikimic acid and its derivatives on cardiovascular system is shown in the role of anti-thrombosis and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Research shows that: shikimic acid has a strong inhibitory effect on the platelet aggregation rate of adenosine diphosphate-induced middle cerebral artery embolism model rats; intravenous and intramuscular injection of shikimic acid can make the blood clotting time of mice prolonged.

3.Anti-cerebral ischemia

Shikimic acid and its derivatives have the effect of improving cerebral ischemia, mainly in reducing the volume of cerebral infarction after focal cerebral ischemia in rats, reducing the neurological function score, reducing the degree of cerebral edema, increasing the cerebral blood flow in the ischemic area and other indicators. Some studies have shown that its derivatives can reduce the degree of erythrocyte aggregation and inhibit platelet aggregation after cerebral ischemia, thus facilitating cerebral microcirculation.