What is shikimic acid used for

Shikimic acid, a chemical substance, has many uses and can be used to treat many diseases. It can be extracted from the fruit of star anise, or it can be synthesized artificially by chemical methods, or it can be synthesized by microbial engineering bacteria. Our shikimic acid uses exclusive patented technology to extract shikimic acid from ginkgo leaves. Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species in the world, dating back to the Carboniferous period 230,000 years ago. It is native to China, with an average lifespan of 2,000-4,000 years, and very tenacious vitality.

Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species in the world, dating back to the Carboniferous period 230,000 years ago. It is native to China, with an average lifespan of 2,000-4,000 years, and very tenacious vitality.

Ginkgo leaves are fan-shaped and have certain medicinal value. They have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.

The oldest Chinese Materia Medica (2800 BC) records that Ginkgo biloba is used to treat asthma, swollen hands and feet, cough, vascular diseases, slow aging and improve the brain. Since 1965, Ginkgo biloba has been used in Europe to treat cerebral ischemia and peripheral vascular disease. Ginkgo biloba extracts generally contain phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, flavonoid glycosides such as myricetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and quercetin, as well as terpene trilactones ginkgolide and bilobalide. The leaves also contain unique ginkgo biloba flavonoids, alkylphenols and polyprenols.

So what diseases can shikimic acid be used to treat?

1. Antibacterial and anti-tumor

Shikimic acid derivatives can play an antibacterial and anti-tumor role, especially for a variety of cancer cells have inhibitory effects, can also prolong the patient's survival time, and are not too toxic.

2. Anti-thrombosis

Shikimic acid and its derivatives are very helpful for the health of the cardiovascular system. They can play an anti-thrombotic role and reduce platelet aggregation. Related studies have also shown that this substance has a very strong inhibitory effect on arterial thrombosis induced by adenosine diphosphate. It can prolong the blood coagulation time by intravenous or intramuscular injection.

3. Anti-cerebral ischemia

Shikimic acid and its derivatives can improve the problem of cerebral ischemia, effectively alleviate the area of cerebral infarction after cerebral ischemia, reduce the neurological function score, and effectively improve the length of cerebral edema. It can enhance the cerebral blood flow in the whole blood area. Related studies have also shown that this substance can effectively reduce the degree of red blood cell aggregation after cerebral ischemia, inhibit platelet aggregation, and enhance brain microcirculation.

1. Medical field

Antibacterial and anti-tumor: Shikimic acid derivatives have antibacterial and anti-tumor effects. Studies have shown that the analogs synthesized from shikimic acid methyl ester have significant inhibitory effects on HeLa cell lines and Eichli ascites carcinoma, and their toxicity is relatively low. In addition, shikimic acid can also be used as a raw material for the synthesis of anti-tumor drugs such as dioxin and glyoxalase inhibitors.

Anti-thrombotic: Shikimic acid and its derivatives have a significant effect on the cardiovascular system, inhibiting platelet aggregation, thereby inhibiting the formation of arterial and venous thrombi and cerebral thrombi. This characteristic makes shikimic acid have potential application value in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic: Shikimic acid has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by affecting arachidonic acid metabolism. This makes it have certain application prospects in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pain relief.

Antiviral: Shikimic acid is also an important intermediate for the synthesis of antiviral drugs. For example, the starting material of the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir phosphate (i.e., oseltamivir, trade name "Tamiflu") is shikimic acid. This makes shikimic acid of great significance in dealing with infections by pathogens such as influenza viruses.

2. Chemical Industry

As an organic acid, shikimic acid has weak acidity and can react with a variety of active bases, alkaline oxides, metals and salts (carbonates and bicarbonates) to form unstable salts. In addition, it has the properties of polyols and alkenes, and can undergo intramolecular dehydration reactions, addition reactions with bromine, and esterification reactions with oxygen-containing acids or alcohols under certain conditions. These chemical properties make shikimic acid have a wide range of application potentials in the chemical industry, such as as a raw material for antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, herbicides, and as a nutrient.