MOLECULE

Gentisic acid

Gentisic acid, also known as gentisate or 2,5-dioxybenzoate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives. Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives are compounds containing a hydroxybenzoic acid (or a derivative), which is a benzene ring bearing a carboxyl and a hydroxyl groups. A dihydroxybenzoic acid having the two hydroxy groups at the 2- and 5-positions. Gentisic acid is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Gentisic acid exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. Outside of the human body, Gentisic acid is found, on average, in the highest concentration within a few different foods, such as tarragons, common thymes, and common sages and in a lower concentration in lemon balms, parsley, and soy beans. Gentisic acid has also been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as garden tomato (var.), cocoa beans, spearmints, common pea, and carrots. This could make gentisic acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Gentisic acid is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.