Caftaric acid: an overview on its structure, daily consumption, bioavailability and pharmacological effects

Abstract

Caftaric acid is simply known as phenolic derivative and it is present in high concentrations in grape seeds and juice. The chemical structure of caftaric acid is C13H12O9, with molar mass of the acid equal to 312.230 g/mol. Caftaric acid is formed united of caffeic acid and tartaric acid. This paper reviews caftaric acid structure, daily consumption, bioavailability and pharmacological effects. The caftaric acid quickly passes to the stomach and duodenum and increases the absorption of the acid in the intestinal Caco-2 cells. The antioxidant effect of grape stem was related to its caftaric acid constituent. The grape juice has anti-inflammatory effect and this anti-inflammatory effect is correlated with the main constituent of this juice which is caftaric acid. Caftaric acid has antimutagenic effect in an animal model suggesting that caftaric acid participates in chemopreventive effect of the Yamabudo juice. The "liver detoxifying" effect is observed and correlated with oral supplementation with aqueous decoctions of Cichorium spinosum and Cichorium intybus in Greece where caftaric acid is the major constituent of these two aqueous decoctions. The caftaric acid possesses a double effect through decreasing high blood glucose and high blood pressure so this acid can be used in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. The caftaric acid increases granulocyte/macrophage-colony forming cells from femurs of female animals' models by 70%. In conclusion, caftaric acid is presented about 5 mg/100 cm3 grape juice. The acid is quickly passes into the stomach and duodenum. The trans-caftaric acid represents 85% of the total phenolic content in the Concord grape juice with a total concentration of 444 μmol/L. The caftaric acid has many pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive, anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome and neuroprotective effects.