Product Description
Shikimic acid is a white crystalline compound with high water solubility, originally named after shikimi grass (Illicium anisatum), from which it was first isolated. It is an important metabolic intermediate in plants and microorganisms.
It is traditionally extracted from the dried ripe fruits of Illicium species, especially Japanese star anise, though it can also be obtained from sources such as sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana) fruits and pine needles.
Chemically, it is a highly water-soluble cyclohexene carboxylic acid (about 180 g/L at 20°C) with three chiral centers (3R,4S,5R), and it acts as a key precursor in the shikimate pathway for aromatic amino acids like phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.
Factory Showcase
Key Properties & Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Molecular Weight | 174.15 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 185-187°C (decomp.) |
| Specific Rotation | [α]₂₀ᴰ = -171° (c=1, H₂O) |
| pKa Values | pKa₁=4.04, pKa₂=5.85 |
| Log P (octanol-water) | -1.38 |
| UV Absorption | λ<sub>max</sub> = 214 nm |
| Thermal Stability | Degrades >200°C |
Inventory Display
Product Application
1. Pharmaceutical Synthesis
Oseltamivir Phosphate (Tamiflu®):
Key intermediate: 70% of global SA demand
Reaction:
Shikimate→10 stepsOseltamivirShikimate10stepsOseltamivir
Antivirals: Zanamivir (Relenza®), Peramivir
Antibiotics: Chloramphenicol, Mycobacterium inhibitors
2. Biotechnology
Shikimate Pathway Engineering: CRISPR-modified crops (drought-resistant maize)
Biocatalysis: Chiral synthon for unnatural amino acids
3. Food & Agriculture
Plant Elicitor: Enhances phenolic compound production in grapes (wine quality)
Preservative: Inhibits E. coli O157:H7 (MIC = 12.5 mg/mL)
4. Cosmetics
Skin Brightener: Tyrosinase inhibitor (0.5-2% in serums)
Anti-Inflammatory: Reduces TNF-α in keratinocytes
Transportation and Delivery
