In this work an attempt is made to analysis of the possible different conformers of p-coumaric acid (PCA) by using density functional method. The total energy of four possible conformers were calculated by using B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method. Computational result identifies that the most stable conformer of PCA is C2. The formation of inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding between -OH and -COOH group gave the evidence for dimer formation for PCA molecule. The highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital analysis shows that the negative electrostatic region situated over the -COOH group and positive electrostatic potential region are localized on ring system and all hydrogen. The PCA has been screened to anti-microbial activity and found to exhibit anti-bacterial effects. Molecular docking results suggest that PCA may exhibit inhibitory activity against lung cancer protein and may act as potential against lung cancer.
Natural phenolic acids are commonly present in plants consumed in the diet. Recently we have observed that different natural phenolic acids exert differential effects on the body mass gain in ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized female rats. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acids on serum estradiol and total cholesterol levels in ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized rats. The experiments were carried out on 3-month old female Wistar Cmd:(WI)WU rats, divided into following groups (n=8 in each group): non-ovariectomized control rats and non-ovariectomized rats receiving ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric or chlorogenic acids, sham-operated control rats, ovariectomized control rats and ovariectomized rats receiving the same phenolic acids. The phenolic acids were administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. daily for 4 weeks. Serum estradiol and total cholesterol levels on the next day after the last administration of the phenolic acids were examined. The phenolic acids did not affect serum estradiol or total cholesterol levels in non-ovariectomized rats. In ovariectomized rats, caffeic acid and to a lesser extent p-coumaric acid increased serum estradiol level, which effect correlated with a decreased body mass gain. All the phenolic acids decreased serum cholesterol level in ovariectomized rats. Concluding, the anti-obesity activity of some phenolic acids may be, at least partially, connected with estrogenic pathways.