Product Overview
3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid, also known as Isoferulic acid, is a natural phenolic cinnamic acid derivative widely extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal plants such as Salvia miltiorrhiza and Cimicifuga foetida. Featuring a unique phenolic hydroxyl and methoxy substituted cinnamic acid structure, it possesses excellent antioxidant, anti-glycosylation, anti-viral and hypoglycemic biological activities. As a high-value fine chemical intermediate and natural active monomer, it is extensively used in pharmaceutical research, cosmetic development, health product formulation and natural product synthesis, serving as a core raw material for bioactive molecule screening and functional product development.
Basic Product Information
1. Product Name: 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid
2. CAS NO.: 537-73-5
3. Synonym: Isoferulic acid; 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamate
4. Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₁₀O₄
5. Molecular Weight: 194.18
6. Structural Formula:
7. Purity: ≥98% (HPLC)
8. Appearance: White crystalline powder
9. Melting Point: 230 °C (decomposition)
10. Boiling Point: 410.2±35.0 °C at 760 mmHg
11. Density: 1.316 g/cm³
12. Flash Point: 167.6 °C
13. Solubility: Soluble in methanol, ethanol, DMSO and ether; slightly soluble in cold water; insoluble in chloroform, benzene and petroleum ether
14. MDL Number: MFCD00004391
15. HS Code: 2918990090
16. Transportation Information: Non-dangerous goods, general chemical transportation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question 1: What is 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid, and what are its core advantages?
Answer: It is a natural bioactive cinnamic acid isomer extracted from plant resources. Different from ordinary ferulic acid, its unique hydroxyl and methoxy substitution structure endows stronger antioxidant and anti-protein glycosylation activity. It has low toxicity and good biocompatibility, which makes it superior for biomedical and cosmetic application compared with synthetic phenolic compounds.
Question 2: What are the key physical and chemical characteristics and handling notes?
Answer: The product is white crystalline powder with stable chemical properties at room temperature, but it will decompose at high temperature above 230°C. It is sensitive to strong light and high humidity, prone to oxidation and discoloration after long-term exposure to air. During operation, avoid contact with strong oxidants and strong alkalis. Wear dust-proof protective equipment to prevent powder inhalation and skin irritation.
Question 3: What are the mainstream acquisition methods of this compound?
Answer: There are two main acquisition routes: natural plant extraction and chemical synthesis. Industrial production mainly adopts selective extraction and purification from Salvia miltiorrhiza and Cimicifuga foetida, with high purity and natural activity. Laboratory artificial synthesis takes vanillin and malonic acid as raw materials through condensation reaction, which has low cost and simple operation, suitable for small-batch experimental research.
Question 4: How to store the product to ensure long-term stability?
Answer: It is recommended to store in a sealed, dry, dark and ventilated environment. For long-term preservation, low-temperature storage at 2-8°C is optimal, which can effectively inhibit oxidation and impurity generation. Avoid repeated opening of the container and long-term exposure to light and humid air. Sealed storage can maintain stable quality for more than 2 years.
Question 5: What downstream derivatives can be synthesized based on this product?
Answer: Relying on active phenolic hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, it can undergo esterification, acylation and coupling reactions. It can synthesize methyl isoferulate, ethyl isoferulate and other ester derivatives, as well as phenolic amine coupling compounds. These derivatives are widely used for enriching bioactive compound libraries and developing new antioxidant and hypoglycemic lead compounds.
Application Cases
Application Case 1: Biomedical research for hypoglycemic and metabolic regulation
3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid is a validated natural hypoglycemic active substance. It can effectively inhibit protein glycosylation induced by glucose and fructose, improve insulin sensitivity, and assist in regulating blood sugar metabolism. It is widely used in the research and development of auxiliary hypoglycemic health products and metabolic disease intervention drugs, and serves as a key positive control reagent for in vitro hypoglycemic activity screening experiments.
Application Case 2: Natural antioxidant for cosmetic and skin care industry
With excellent free radical scavenging capacity, this compound can resist skin oxidative aging and reduce oxidative damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. Compared with synthetic antioxidants, it has mild properties and no skin irritation. It is commonly added into anti-aging, whitening and repairing skin care products, and is a high-quality natural functional additive for green cosmetic formulation.
Application Case 3: Core reference standard for natural product detection
As a characteristic marker component of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Cimicifuga foetida, high-purity 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid is used as a standard reagent for HPLC qualitative and quantitative detection of traditional Chinese medicine preparations. It is widely applied in pharmaceutical testing institutions and quality control laboratories to evaluate the purity and efficacy of plant-derived medicinal materials and related preparations.
Application Case 4: Antiviral and anti-inflammatory drug precursor development
The compound has significant in vitro antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity. It can inhibit the replication of multiple viruses and reduce inflammatory factor secretion. It is used as a key building block for designing and synthesizing new anti-inflammatory and antiviral small-molecule drugs, providing new structural templates for the development of low-toxicity natural antiviral drugs.
Application Case 5: Functional additive for health food development
Benefiting from its natural source, low toxicity and stable antioxidant activity, it is used as a functional additive in health food and functional beverage production. It can remove excess free radicals in the human body, delay aging and improve body metabolic level, and is a safe and efficient natural health care raw material in the field of functional food research and development.
Safety and Storage
1. Storage Conditions: Store in a tightly sealed container, keep dry, dark and well-ventilated. Long-term storage is recommended at 2-8°C, avoid high temperature, strong light and humid environment to prevent oxidation and decomposition.
2. Safety Operation: The product is slightly irritating. Wear dust-proof mask, chemical gloves and goggles during operation, and operate in a fume hood. Avoid inhalation of powder and direct contact with skin and eyes.
3. Transport Requirements: Classified as non-dangerous goods, suitable for normal temperature transportation. Keep packages intact, avoid extrusion, moisture and sunlight exposure during transportation. Do not transport with strong oxidants and strong alkalis.
4. Shelf Life: 24 months under standard sealed and low-temperature storage conditions.
Product Manager Information
Product Manager: Emma Song
Email: emma@coreychem.com
