Description: <p><b>p-Coumaric Acid</b> - 4-Hydroxycinnamic Acid</p>
<p><b>Alternative Names:</b> p-Coumaric acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, p-coumarate</p>
<p><b>Type:</b> Hydroxycinnamic acid / phenolic acid / natural phytochemical</p>
<p><b>Sources:</b> Widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, and other plant-derived foods. It occurs both as a free phenolic acid and conjugated to other plant constituents.</p>
<p><b>Function:</b> p-Coumaric acid is a bioactive phenolic acid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities. Reported mechanisms include modulation of Nrf2, NF-κB, COX-2, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell-cycle regulation.</p>
<p><b>Cancer:</b> Preclinical studies demonstrate inhibition of cancer-cell proliferation and clonogenicity, induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, suppression of inflammatory and survival signaling, and modulation of oxidative stress. Anticancer evidence is particularly developed in colorectal cancer, with additional activity reported in breast, liver, and other experimental cancer models.</p>
<p><b>Alzheimer's Disease:</b> Preclinical evidence suggests neuroprotective effects through reduction of oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, Aβ accumulation, acetylcholinesterase activity, and neuronal apoptosis. Evidence remains predominantly experimental rather than clinical.</p>