Shikimic Acid Powder 138-59-0

Shikimic Acid Powder (CAS 138-59-0) is a naturally occurring organic compound widely used as a key intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly in the production of antiviral drugs. It is typically extracted from plant sources such as Illicium verum (star anise) or produced via microbial fermentation.

For B2B buyers, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, cosmetic formulators, and biochemical companies, shikimic acid offers a high-purity, stable, and scalable raw material suitable for advanced industrial applications.

1. Key Biosynthetic Precursor

Shikimic acid is a core intermediate in the shikimic acid pathway, a metabolic pathway widely found in plants, bacteria, and fungi, participating in the formation of various aromatic compounds. It acts as a bridge between basal metabolism and the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, thus holding fundamental significance in life science research. By studying the metabolic pathway of shikimic acid, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of the sources and formation mechanisms of various bioactive natural substances in plants. Due to this crucial position, shikimic acid is often considered an important basic molecule in natural product biosynthesis research.

2. Important Intermediate Value in Pharmaceutical Synthesis

Shikimic acid plays an important role in the pharmaceutical chemical industry, often used as a starting material for the synthesis of various bioactive molecules. Its molecular structure contains multiple reactive functional groups, facilitating various organic reactions such as esterification, oxidation, and reduction, making it an ideal precursor for constructing complex drug molecule skeletons. Industrial production requires high purity and stability, therefore, it is often prepared on a large scale through plant extraction or bio-fermentation techniques. With its excellent reactivity, shikimic acid has become a key platform compound in multi-step organic synthesis routes.

3. Support for Phytochemistry and Natural Product Research

In phytochemistry research, shikimic acid is considered an early precursor in the formation of many secondary metabolites. Many flavonoids, polyphenols, and aromatic compounds in plants are closely related to the shikimic acid pathway, thus it has significant scientific value in elucidating the sources of plant bioactive components. By tracing its metabolic transformation within plants, researchers can reveal the biosynthetic logic of natural products. Therefore, it is frequently used in fundamental research on plant metabolic engineering and the biosynthetic mechanisms of natural products.

4. Potential for Antioxidant-Related Mechanism Research

Structurally, the shikimic acid molecule contains multiple hydroxyl groups and one carboxyl group. These functional groups enable it to exhibit certain antioxidant-related activities in experimental studies. Some in vitro experiments focus on its ability to react with free radicals and its performance in oxidative stress models, but these studies mainly concentrate on mechanistic exploration. Compared to typical antioxidants, its direct applications are still relatively limited; it is more often studied as the structural basis of potential functional molecules. Overall, its antioxidant-related value leans more towards scientific research reference.

5. Basic Research in Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Directions

In experimental studies, shikimic acid has been used to explore its effects on inflammatory signaling pathways, but these studies are mostly limited to cell or animal experiments. Researchers are focusing on its potential impact on the expression of inflammatory mediators and changes in oxidative stress indicators to assess its potential bioactivity. Such findings provide clues to understanding the role of natural small molecules in immune and inflammatory regulation, but further research is needed for verification. Currently, its value in this direction is mainly reflected in basic scientific research.

6. Application Value in Biofermentation and Green Manufacturing

With the development of synthetic biology and fermentation engineering, shikimic acid has become one of the important biomanufacturing platform compounds. By constructing engineered strains, shikimic acid can be efficiently produced from renewable raw materials, providing a green source for the subsequent synthesis of high-value-added molecules. Compared with traditional plant extraction, biofermentation has more stable yields and a lower environmental burden. Therefore, it shows good industrial application prospects in the fields of sustainable chemical engineering and green manufacturing.

High Purity (≥99%) – Meets pharmaceutical-grade requirements

Dual Production Methods – Plant extraction and fermentation options

Stable Supply Chain – Suitable for bulk industrial demand

Wide Application Range – Pharma, cosmetics, biotech

Strong Market Demand – Key intermediate in antiviral drug production

Technical Support Available – From Purea Biological Technology Co., Ltd.

B2B buyers should evaluate:

1.Purity Level – ≥98% or ≥99% depending on application

2.Source – Plant-derived vs fermentation-based

3.Residual Solvents – Compliance with pharma standards

4.Batch Consistency – Critical for large-scale production

5.Supplier Reliability – Stable supply and technical documentation

Working with Purea Biological Technology Co., Ltd. ensures consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and long-term supply capability.

Pure Biological provides high-quality Shikimic Acid Powder 138-59-0, supports customer OEM customization, from samples to bulk goods, can respond quickly, and has a good service foundation.

Please contact us by email for more information.Email:sales@pureabio.com

Purea Biological Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on plant extracts and biopharmaceuticals, backed by authoritative certifications including ISO9001 and SC. We adhere to global quality standards, implement full-chain quality control, and deliver compliant, reliable products to support overseas partners in food, health products and pharmaceutical fields.

Purea Biological Technology Co., Ltd. boasts a modern production base equipped with advanced equipment and technology. From raw material selection to extraction, separation, and purification, we strictly adhere to standard procedures to ensure the reliable quality of each batch of products. We have extremely strict quality control and a comprehensive quality control system. We rigorously control the quality of raw materials from the source, monitor the entire production process, and use advanced equipment to carefully inspect finished products.