2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid

Uses

It is a potentially useful iron-chelating drug and has antimicrobial properties.

Occurrence

It is found in Phyllanthus acidus and in the aquatic fern Salvinia molesta. It is also abundant in the fruits of Flacourtia inermis.

The colorless solid occurs naturally, being formed via the shikimate pathway. It is incorporated into various siderophores, which are molecules that strongly complex iron ions for absorption into bacteria. 2,3-DHB consists of a catechol group, which upon deprotonation binds iron centers very strongly, and the carboxylic acid group by which the ring attaches to various scaffolds through amide bonds. A famous high affinity siderophore is enterochelin, which contains three dihydroxybenzoyl substituents linked to the depsipeptide of serine.

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is also a product of human aspirin metabolism.

References

References

1. (2016). "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics". [[CRC Press]].
2. (1974). "The identification of 2,3-dihroxybenzoic acid as a potentially useful iron-chelating drug". Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
3. (2011). "Antibiotic activity of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid isolated from ''Flacourtia inermis'' fruit against multidrug resistant bacteria". Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research.
4. (2008). "Phenolic and other constituents of fresh water fern Salvinia molesta". Phytochemistry.
5. (1970). "Biologically active compounds containing 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and serine formed by ''Escherichia coli''". [[Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects]].
6. (1988). "2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is a product of human aspirin metabolism". Biochemical Pharmacology.