title: Chemistry and biological activities of caffeic acid derivatives from Salvia miltiorrhiza.
abstract: Caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), one of the most common phenolic acids, frequently occurs in fruits, grains and dietary supplements for human consumption as simple esters with quinic acid or saccharides, and are also found in traditional Chinese herbs. Caffeic acid derivatives occur as major water-soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhiza, including caffeic acid monomers and a wide variety of oligomers. This review provides up-to-date coverage of this class of phenolic acids in regard to structural classification, natural resources, chemical and biosyntheses, analytical methods and biological activities including antioxidant, anti-ischemia reperfusion, anti-thrombosis, anti-hypertension, anti-fibrosis, antivirus and antitumor properties. Special attention is paid to both structural classification and biological activities. The structural diversity and the pronounced biological activities encountered in the caffeic acid derivatives of S. miltiorrhiza indicate that this class of compounds is worthy of further studies that may lead to new drug discovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ren-Wang
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Kit-Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Po-Ming
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Thomas C W
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Kam-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kwok-Pui
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; C040048:caffeic acid