Kinetics and possible mechanism of chlorogenic acid–water complex formation

Abstract

Chlorogenic acids are a large family of naturally occurring esters of quinic acid with one or two cinnamic acid residues. Due to their biomedical activity combined with relatively low toxicity and side effects, potential uses of these compounds in pharmaceuticals and dietary products (foodstuffs and food additives) are considered. Our recently performed studies have shown that their main and most widespread representative, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), forms two complexes with water in its water solution and in food products containing this acid. The kinetics of 5-CQA water complex formation was thoroughly examined in this paper. The performed comprehensive experiments not only revealed the most probable mechanism of their formation but also proved that these complexes are composed of two 5-CQA and two H₂O molecules.