3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is a kind of phenolic acid, which is naturally found in many foods and plants such as fruits, vegetables, eyes, tea, hibsharon flower and so on. It can be dissolved in hot water, ethanol, ether, acetone, ethyl acetate, Common 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is a white to brown crystalline powder that should be sealed to avoid discoloration due to prolonged exposure to air.
3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid has a variety of biological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. Among them, its antibacterial action can inhibit Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Escherichia coli, etc.
The anticancer effect of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid comes into play by inhibiting the metabolism of cancer cells and reducing the invasion ability of cancer cells. 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid can promote the apoptosis of human lung, cervix, breast, prostate cancer cells and reduce the vitality of cancer cells. Therefore, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid can achieve anticancer effects by delaying the infiltration and metabolism of tumor cells or promoting the apoptosis of cancer cells.
