• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.824-827
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• 1990

Phenolic acids are widely distributed in all plant meterial. Most of these acids were combined with plant or grain cell wall. On the other hand, it had been reported that p-coumaric acid exhibited hypocholesterolemic activity in rats. We have undertaken a study of these compounds with regard to their effect on the rat. In this study, the effects of phenolic acid on the serum cholesterol level in rats fed with cholesterol free and cholesterol enriched diets were examined. The commercially available phenolic acid were purchased in the experiment. These compounds were incoporated in the diet at a level of 0.2%. These diets were fed for 21 days to male wistar strain rats with a body weight of 80 to 90g. It was found no significant change in serum cholesterol level in the phenolic acid fed rats in both cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diet.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4019-4023
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) or bowel cancer is one of the most important cancer diseases, needing serious attention. The cell surface receptor gene human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may have an important role in provoking CRC. In this pharmaceutical era, it is always attempted to identify plant-based drugs for cancer, which will have less side effects for human body, unlike the chemically synthesized marketed drugs having serious side effects. So, in this study the authors tried to assess the activity of two important plant compounds, ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (pCA), on CRC. Materials and Methods: FA and pCA were tested for their cytotoxic effects on the human CRC cell line HCT 15 and also checked for the level of gene expression of EGFR by real time PCR analysis. Positive results were confirmed by in silico molecular docking studies using Discovery Studio (DS) 4.0. The drug parallel features of the same compounds were also assessed in silico. Results: Cytotoxicity experiments revealed that both the compounds were efficient in killing CRC cells on a controlled concentration basis. In addition, EGFR expression was down-regulated in the presence of the compounds. Docking studies unveiled that both the compounds were able to inhibit EGFR at its active site. Pharmacokinetic analysis of these compounds opened up their drug like behaviour. Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of plant compounds for targeting diseases like CRC.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.421-430
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to detect the presence of allelopathic substances in the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Water extracts from G. biloba leaves which collected at different season markedly inhibited the germination and growth of O. sativa, E. crus-galli, D. sanguinalis, and L. sativa, indicating the presence of biological substances. Linolenic and palmitic acid were the major fatty acids of G. biloba leaves. The biochemical substances such as salicylic arid, p-coumaric acid, catechol, hydroquinone, orchinol, ferulic acid, phloroglucinol, and umbelliferone etc., belonging to the phenolic, compounds were, detected in a large amount, which may be responsible for exhibition inhibitory effects. The common phenolic compounds were detected in the early-harvested and late-harvested G. biloba leaves were salicylic and p-coumaric acid. All these compounds were related to the allelopathic activities in G. biloba leaves.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2019

Cymbopogon citratus (CC) and Perilla frutescens (PF) are known to exert various biological effects. However, their skin hydration and skin barrier effects remain unclear. This study investigated effects of their extracts on skin hydration and skin barrier and analysed the phenolic compounds. effects of these extracts on skin hydration in HaCaT cells showed that Hyaluronic acid production in cells treated with ethanol extracts was higher than that treated with water extracts for both CC and PF. HPLC was used to analyse 19 phenolic compounds in CC and PF ethanol extracts (CCE and PFE). Results revealed chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid in CCE and rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid in PFE. Expression levels of hyaluronan synthase 1 (HAS1), HAS2, HAS3, and aquaporin 3 (AQP3), which are related to skin moisturization, and filaggrin and loricrin, which are related to skin barrier were higher in cells treated with CCE than with PFE. CCE and PFE also increased expression of PPAR-a protein involved in skin moisturization and epidermal differentiation in a concentration-dependent manner. As major components of CCE, chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid increased PPAR-a protein expression. Thus, CCE and PFE could be used as functional cosmetic materials for skin hydration and skin barrier effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 2021

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with chronic skin inflammatory reactions. p-coumaric acid (pCA) is an active ingredient of Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). Methods: Here, we estimated an anti-AD effect of pCA on activated mast cells, activated splenocytes, and a mouse model of AD. Cytokines levels were measured by ELISA and protein activation was analyzed by Western blotting. 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was used to induce AD-like skin lesions. Results: The treatment with pCA suppressed the productions and mRNA expressions of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in HMC-1 cells. pCA downregulated the expressions of RIP2 and caspase-1, phosphorylated-(p)p38/pJNK/pERK, and pIKKβ/pIkBα/NF-κB in HMC-1 cells. pCA also decreased the productions of TSLP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, and IFN-γ in the supernatant of stimulated splenic cells. Comparing to DNFB-sensitized control group, pCA-treated group alleviated pathological changes of AD-like lesions. pCA decreased the proteins and mRNA expressions levels of TSLP, IL-6, and IL-4 in the skin lesions. Caspase-1 activation was also downregulated by pCA treatment in the AD-like lesions. The serum levels of histamine, IgE, TSLP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-4 were suppressed following treatment with pCA. Conclusion: This study suggests that pCA has the potential to improve AD by suppressing TSLP as well as inflammatory cytokines via blocking of caspase-1/NF-κB signal cascade.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Demand for a new anti-malarial drug has been dramatically increasing in the recent years. Plasmodium falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) plays a vital role in fatty acid elongation process, which now emerged as a new important target for the development of anti-microbial and anti-parasitic molecules. In the present study, 19 compounds namely alginic acid, atropine, chlorogenic acid, chrotacumine A & B, coenzyme $Q_1$, 4-coumaric acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, embelin, 5-O-methyl embelin, eugenyl glucoside, glabridin, hyoscyamine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, rohitukine, scopolamine, tlatlancuayin and ursolic acid were evaluated on their docking behaviour on P. falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) using Auto dock 4.2. The docking studies and binding free energy calculations exhibited that glabridin gave the highest binding energy (-8.07 kcal/mol) and 4-coumaric acid in contrast showed the least binding energy (-4.83 kcal/mol). All ligands except alginic acid, ellagic acid, hyoscyamine and glabridin interacted with Gln409 amino acid residue. Interestingly four ligands namely coenzyme $Q_1$, 4-coumaric acid, embelin and 5-O-methyl embelin interacted with Gln409 amino acid residue present in both chains (A & B) of PfENR protein. Thus, the results of this present study exhibited the potential of these 19 ligands as P. falciparum enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (PfENR) inhibitory agents and also as anti-malarial agents.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1987

Phenolic compounds, p-coumaric and p-hydroxybenzoic acids, known as inhibitors for development and growth of many pioneer species on early stage of succession were used for the test fo susceptibility in various herbs collected from abandoned agricultural fields in the vicinity of Amherst(U. S. A.). The percent inhibition was generally greater for p-coumaric acid than for p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Concentrations of 5$\times$10-5 and 5$\times$10-4M generally had no significant effects, but at 5$\times$10-3M was inhibitory to germination and growth of tested species. And the percent inhibition caused by the two phenolics was correlated (r=.843, p<.01). Also the indices of resistance for germination and elongation were significant (r=.695, p<.01) in this study. While Cirsium and Lepidium invading species of early stage of succession were sharply susceptible for toxic activity by phenolic acids.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.389-393
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• 1994

Eight aromatic acids in Panax ginseng were determined by GC. Ultra-1 $(25\;m{\times}0.2\;mm{\times}0.33\;{\mu}M)$ capillary column was employed with temperature programming from $150^{\circ}C$ to $240^{\circ}C$ at a rate of $3^{\circ}C/min$. The mean contents of eight aromatic acids in 8 white ginseng samples were as follows; salicylic acid: 4.30 ppm, cinnamic acid: 18.2 ppm, vanillic acid: 4.22 ppm, gentisic acid: trace, syringic acid: 6.69 ppm, p-coumaric acid: 13.3 ppm, ferulic acid : 21.9 ppm, caffeic acid: 24.3 ppm, respectively.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 1991

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a common cultivated and wild deciduous tree in the temperate regions of Pakistan and elsewhere. A bare or poor understorey of wild or cultivated species is frequently observed beneath and around it. Soil analysis indicated insignificant differences in nutrient status of soils taken from areas with or without walnut influence. Field investigations revealed that the height, shoot, fresh and dry weight of potato, turnip, corn and bean significantly decreased in the walnut-influenced parts of the field compared to their counter-parts in the same field but without walnut influence. Aqueous extracts from various parts, shoot litter, natural rain leachates and soil collected from beneath walnut significantly reduced the germination, early seedling growth, fresh and dry weight, and moisture contents of corn, turnip and bean in various laboratory experiments. Ferulic, p-coumaric, caffeic, vanillic, jJ-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic and gallic acid were identified as the possible allelopathic substances in the aquous extracts and rain leachates of the walnut tree. The findings suggest that the observed poor growth of crops is due to allelopathic effects of walnut.walnut.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 1998

Fixed-bed adsorption was adapted to separate phenolic acids from diluted phenolic solution. Break-through curve was obtained by nonlinear curve fitting method, and breakpoint, saturation time, and mass transfer coeffi-cient were calculated . Break point and saturation time were reached slower with $\rho$-coumaric acid than ferulic acid .The p-coumaric acid, having small molecular weight, is suposedly traveled longer pathway in characoal than ferulic acid. Fixed-bed adsorption iwht gallic acid having more hydroxyl functional group than other phenolic acids showed break point arrival and the largest saturation time. This fact means that there was bigger electrostatic affinity between gallic acid and charcoal than between other phenolic acids and charcoal.