protocatechualdehyde

Protocatechualdehyde is a naturally occurring phenolic aldehyde found in various plants such as barley, green cavendish bananas, grapevine leaves, and the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza. It is a small molecule with notable antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic properties against human breast cancer and colorectal cancer cells by reducing the expression of pro-oncogenes β-catenin and cyclin D1[1][2][3]. Mechanistically, it inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis through HDAC2-mediated cyclin D1 suppression in colorectal cancer cells and activates proteasomal degradation pathways in breast cancer cells[3]. Protocatechualdehyde also exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activities; it has been studied for its protective effects on nerve cells (e.g., cerebral ischemia injury), cardiovascular diseases (including myocardial infarction), liver protection/regeneration, antifibrosis activity in tissues/organs (including liver), wound healing promotion, as well as potential benefits for diabetic complications via modulation of targets such as AKT1, MAPK3/ERK1 and HDAC3[4][5][6][7]. It is considered experimental with no established pharmaceutical approval.

Other names

protocatechuic aldehydecatechaldehyde3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde