Review Article

Antioxidant Effects of Protocatechuic Acid and Protocatechuic Aldehyde: Old Wine in a New Bottle

Table 1

Sources of PCA and PAL in nature and their biological activities.

No.Biological sourcePCA content (ug/g)PAL content (ug/g)Biological activityReferences

1Rice23.2–1043 (DW)2–188 (DW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory chemoprevention[18, 60, 61]
2Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)6.61–24.5 (DW)3.65–19.74 (DW)Antioxidative[21, 62]
3Green pea (Pisum sativum)1.26–11.38 (DW)0.07–0.12 (DW)Antioxidative[21, 63]
4Fava bean (Vicia faba)0.61–2.42 (DW)0.68–5.63 (DW)NT[21]
5Hemp (Cannabis sativa)5.63–22.06 (DW)6.41–34.77 (DW)NT[21]
6Lupin (Lupinus albus)0.15 ± 0.02 (DW)NDNT[21]
7Wheat0.07–0.11 (DW)0.19 ± 0.04 (DW)Antioxidative[21]
8Lentils20.28–37.72 (DW)3.69–12.14 (DW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory[20]
9Commercial black-colored cowpeas18.97 ± 0.45 (DW)NTAntioxidative antidiabetic[64]
10Pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties12.1–163.5 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory immunomodulation[65]
11Common beans95.34–253.42 (DW)NTAntioxidative[66]
12Onion (Allium cepa L.)1027 (DW)NTAntioxidative, antimutagenic[22]
13Mint family plantsUC (FW)0.843–18.285 (FW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory[26]
14Yayla Cayi (Thymus praecox OPIZ subsp. Grossheimii (Ronniger) Jalas)UC (DW)UC (DW)Antioxidative[67]
15Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica L.)0.843–18.285 (DW)NTAntioxidative[68]
16Kinnow peel177 (DW)NTAntioxidative, health benefits[69]
17Banana pulp340 (DW)NTAntioxidative, health benefits[69]
18Prune (Prunus domestica L.)355.87 (FW)NTAntioxidative[27]
19Friar plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)50–160 (FW)NTAntioxidative, increased edible quality[28]
20Prunus persica var. platycarpa (Tabacchiera peach)0.19 (FW)0.02 (FW)Antioxidative[31]
21Currant (Ribes L.)137.6–464.8 (FW)NTAntioxidative[30]
22Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.)24.7–77.7 (DW)NTAntioxidative[30]
23Grapes0.143–0.371 (FW)NTAntioxidative[29]
24Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seed106–843 (DW)NTAntioxidative, antimalarial, antiplasmodial[70]
25Cocoa beans197.9–385.3 (DW)2.6–1945.7 (DW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory[33]
26Almonds (Prunus amygdalus Batsch)66.67 (DW)NTAntioxidative[71]
27Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)13.1–30.5 (FW)UCAntioxidative[72]
28Orobanche cernua Loefling (Orobanchaceae)NT0.353 (FW)Anticancer[73]
29Salvia miltiorrhiza56~152 (DW)59~94 (DW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory[49]
30The fruiting body of Phellinus linteus10 (FW)9 (FW)Aldose reductase inhibitors[48]
31Ginkgo biloba L. leaf2708~345321 (FW)NTAntioxidative[42, 43]
32Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Hippocastanaceae)72.53 (DW)NTAntioxidative[44]
33Hypericum perforatum761.67 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antigenotoxic[44]
34Alpinate oxyphyllae fructus (Alpinia oxyphylla MIQ, AOF)0.832 (FW), 8.5 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-cell migration, antiapoptosis[51, 74]
35Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fructus (SCF)210 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-beta amyloid formation[75, 76]
36Ramulus Cinnamomi61.5~137.7 (DW)NTAntioxidative[77]
37Cinnamon fruits54.7 (DW)NTAntioxidative[78]
38Lilium lancifolium0.5937~2.962 (DW)NTAntioxidative[46]
39Cynomorium songaricum Rupr.148 (DW)0.629 (DW)Phytoestrogenic- or phytoandrogenic-like activities[47]
40The fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidumNT0.952 (DW)?Aldose reductase inhibitors[79]
41Pinellia ternataNTUCAntioxidative, change of activity of protective enzyme[45, 80]
42Prunella vulgaris0.0089~0.0476% (w/w)0.003~0.008% (w/w)Antioxidative[81]
43Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.)8.8 (DW)4.6 (DW)Antioxidative, anticancer[82]
44Rattan materials (Calamoideae faberii)14~97 (DW)18~99 (DW)Antioxidative[83]
45Leaves of Lycium barbarumNT0.87~9.47 (DW)Antioxidative[84, 85]
46Hydnophytum formicarum Jack. (Rubiaceae)NT1.5 (DW)Antioxidative, antimicrobial[86]
47Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs, Roselle; Malvaceae)94.1 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiurease[87, 88]
48Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)UCUCAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory[67]
49Green tea (Camellia sinensis)UCUCAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory[67]
50Barley teaNT2.6 (DW)Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory[89]
51Grape wine0.7~5.24 mg/LNTAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory[39, 40]
52Olive oil (Olea europaea)176.08 (DW)NTAntioxidative, anti-inflammatory[44]

DW, dry weight; FW, fresh weight; ND, not detected (i.e., below the detection level); NT, not tested; UC, detected, but content unclear.