Syringic acid is a naturally occurring O-methylated phenolic acid that can be enzymatically degraded by some bacteria as a source of methane or methanol. It is also a component of phenolic extracts from various plants that have antioxidant and prooxidant activities. Syringic acid has been shown to inhibit aldose reductase (IC50 = 213 μg/ml), proteasome activity, and cancer cell proliferation. Phenolic extracts containing syringic acid have been shown to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities and reduce lipid peroxidation in vitro.
antiproliferative; antifungal
Syringic Acid is used in biological studies for electron transfer from plant phenolates to carotenoid radical cations with antioxidant interaction entering the Marcus theory inverted region.
ChEBI: A dimethoxybenzene that is 3,5-dimethyl ether derivative of gallic acid.
Recrystallise syringic acid from H2O using charcoal [Bogert & Coyne J Am Chem Soc 51 571 1929, Anderson & Nabenhauer J Am Chem Soc 48 3001 1926.] The methyl ester has m 107o (from MeOH), the 4-acetyl derivative has m 190o and the 4-benzoyl derivative has m 229-232o. [Hahn & Wassmuth Chem Ber 67 2050 1934, UV: Lemon J Am Chem Soc 69 2998 1947 and Pearl & Beyer J Am Chem Soc 72 1743 1950, Beilstein 10 IV 1995.]
