Protocatechuic Acid and Human Disease Prevention: Biological Activities and Molecular Mechanisms

Abstract

Epidemiological evidence has shown that a high dietary intake of vegetables and fruit rich in polyphenols is associated with a reduction of cancer incidence and mortality from coronary heart disease. The healthy effects associated with polyphenol consumption have made the study of the mechanisms of action a matter of great importance. In particular, the hydroxybenzoic acid protocatechuic acid (PCA) has been eliciting a growing interest for several reasons. Firstly, PCA is one of the main metabolites of complex polyphenols such as anthocyanins and procyanidins that are normally found at high concentrations in vegetables and fruit, and are absorbed by animals and humans. Since the daily intake of anthocyanins has been estimated to be much higher than that of other polyphenols, the nutritional value of PCA is increasingly recognized. Secondly, a growing body of evidence supports the concept that PCA can exert a variety of biological effects by acting on different molecular targets. It has been shown that PCA possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as antihyperglycemic and neuroprotective activities. Furthermore, PCA seems to have chemopreventive potential because it inhibits the in vitro chemical carcinogenesis and exerts pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects in different tissues. This review is aimed at providing an up-dated and comprehensive report on PCA giving a special emphasis on its biological activities and the molecular mechanisms of action most likely responsible for a beneficial role in human disease prevention.

Novel Antiplatelet Activity of Protocatechuic Acid through the Inhibition of High Shear Stress-Induced Platelet Aggregation

“…Based on the epidemiological evidence demonstrating the association between its consumption and the reduction of disease incidence such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, there has been a growing attention to identify the biological role of PCA (Masella et al, 2012). Chemopreventive potential of PCA has been intensively studied in various cancer types including colon, lung, and skin.…”

Comparison of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Extract and Enalapril with Regard to Their Effect on Lung Fibrosis in a Bleomycin-induced Rat Model of Lung Fibrosis

“…Inpress(Inpress):e38798. 5 PCA through its high antiradical activity (19,39). The results showed that there is no significant difference between the group administered 400 mg/kg HSE and the control group with regard to the lung tissue MDA levels.…”

“…A growing number of studies have suggested that the use of antioxidants can reduce the inflammatory response generated by ROS in animals (18,38,39). Further, a large number of both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that extracts of the calyx of roselle flowers have potent antioxidant activity (40,41).…”

Dietary patterns and the risk of oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer in Syria: a case control study

“…Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, dietary fiber (and its components), dithiolthiones, glucosinolates (isothiocyanates and indoles), polyphenols, protease inhibitors, allium compounds, plant sterols, and limonene [51]. These compounds have been shown to decrease the risk of cancer possibly through attenuation of the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrosamines, preventing the progression of different cancers, inhibition of multiple cancer-related biological pathways, such as carcinogen bio-activation, cell-signaling, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and inflammation [52]. Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, two main phenolic antioxidants found in olive oil, have been linked to decrease glutathione (GSH), the activation of the transcription factor Nuclear Factor-КB and cell death which may be implicated in the carcinogenetic processes [53].…”