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Rosmarinic acid: new aspects

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Abstract

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid which is one of the most frequently occurring caffeic acid esters in the plant kingdom besides chlorogenic acid. RA has numerous biological and pharmacological activities. Its occurrence is spread all over the land plant kingdom. Enzymes and genes of its biosynthesis are well investigated. RA can be produced in high amounts in in vitro cultivated plant cells which offers the possibility of an economical exploitation. The review reports about recent findings in the biosynthesis of RA and related caffeic acid esters and discusses some aspects of the evolution of the biosynthetic enzymes.

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Abbreviations

4CL:

4-Hydroxycinnamic acid CoA-ligase

C4H:

Cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase

CoA:

Coenzyme A

CPR:

NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase

CYP:

Cytochrome P450

DHPL:

3,4-Dihydroxyphenyllactic acid

HCT:

Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase

HQT:

Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase

HST:

Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase

HPPD:

Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase

HPPR:

Hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase

HPR2:

Cytosolic hydroxypyruvate reductase

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

pHPL:

4-Hydroxyphenyllactic acid

pHPP:

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid

RA:

Rosmarinic acid

RAS:

Rosmarinic acid synthase

RNAi:

Inhibitory RNA

TAT:

Tyrosine aminotransferase

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  1. Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 17A, 35037, Marburg, Germany

    Maike Petersen

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Exactly 25 years ago I made my first acquaintance with a molecule named rosmarinic acid occurring in medicinal plants of the families Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae. At that time I did not expect that such a rather plain molecule with a rather restricted occurrence would accompany me through the rest of my research carrier. At this occasion, I want to thank all diploma and doctoral students, technical staff members and collaborators in other laboratories listed below as well as numerous students in lab courses for their engagement in rosmarinic acid research—and of course Prof. Dr. August Wilhelm Alfermann who directed my interest to rosmarinic acid and helped me in every possible way. Many thanks to Anja Berger, Anke Kunzendorf, Anne Thelen (Passmann), Anne-Sarah Döring, Barbara Karwatzki, Beate Rosenberg, Bettina Kempin, Claudia Gertlowski, Cordula Strecker, Corinna Weitzel, David Eberle, Dominique Van der Straeten, Elek Szabo, Elisabeth Fuss, Elisabeth Szabo (Häusler), Elke Bauerbach, Ellen Vetter, Eva Posthoff, Jennifer Robinson, Jörg Metzger, Juliane Meinhard, Katharina Vogelsang, Kerstin Lahrmann, Kyung Hee Kim, Maria Clemens, Maria Koczor, Marie-Claire Badouin, Martina Heim, Soheil Pezeshki, Stefan Biastoff, Stefan Wolters, Stephanie Hücherig, Susanne Paradies, Ute Hegener, Verena Janiak, Virginie Berghoff, Yana Abdullah and all those I might have forgotten here.

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Petersen, M. Rosmarinic acid: new aspects. Phytochem Rev 12, 207–227 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-013-9282-8

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