hippuric acid

Hippuric acid is an acyl glycine formed by the conjugation of benzoic acid and glycine. It is a normal component of human urine as a metabolite of aromatic compounds from food and environmental sources. Hippuric acid itself has mild antibacterial activity and helps to maintain acidic urine pH. Therapeutically, it is used in the form of its salts (such as calcium or ammonium hippurate) and as part of methenamine hippurate (Hiprex), which is FDA-approved for prophylactic or suppressive treatment of frequently recurring urinary tract infections when long-term therapy is necessary. In this combination, methenamine hydrolyzes to formaldehyde in acidic urine for antibacterial effect; hippuric acid contributes both by direct mild antibacterial action and by maintaining urine acidity[1][5]. Hippuric acid’s mechanism involves lowering urinary pH and exerting weak bacteriostatic effects against organisms such as E. coli, enterococci, and staphylococci[1][5]. It does not have a specific molecular target but acts through physicochemical means.

Other names

benzoylglycineN-benzoylglycineglycine, N-benzoyl-