gentisic acid

Gentisic acid is a **small molecule**—specifically, a dihydroxybenzoic acid and a **plant-derived phenolic acid**—as well as a minor human metabolite of aspirin and salicylic acid degradation[1][3][7][9]. It exhibits a **broad spectrum of biological activity** including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antigenotoxic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, analgesic, antirheumatic, antidiabetic (in vitro), anticarcinogenic, and cardioprotective effects[1][2][4][5][6][9]. Gentisic acid acts as a fibroblast growth factor inhibitor and inhibits oxidative processes via **free radical scavenging** and **enzyme inhibition** (notably α-amylase, α-glucosidase)[2][5]. It has been used as an excipient (antioxidant) and was at times evaluated as a therapeutic agent in rheumatology[4][7]. It is found in various foods, especially many fruits and plants, and also in some pharmaceutical preparations as a matrix or excipient[1][3][9].

Other names

2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acidgentisatesalicylic acid 5-hydroxy derivative