National Toxicology Program

3.0 PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND ANALYSES

Both chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid can be isolated from green coffee beans (Budavari, 1996).

4.0 PRODUCTION AND IMPORT VOLUMES

No information was found on the production and import volumes of chlorogenic or caffeic acid.

In 1990, the United States imported 1387 tons (1258 Mg) of green coffee beans (International Coffee Organization, 1990; cited by Wasserman et al., 1993).

5.0 USES

No information was found on uses of chlorogenic acid, but the use of caffeic acid for treating asthma and allergies has been investigated (Koshihara et al., 1984; Murota and Koshihara, 1985; both cited by IARC, 1993).

Plants containing chlorogenic acid are used for medicinal purposes. Betulae folium, Orthosiphonis folium, and Solidaginis herba are herbal remedies used in Germany for their diuretic effects (Schneider-Leukel et al., 1992).

Some plants containing both chlorogenic and caffeic acid are used as herbal remedies. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is used as a cardiotonic and coronary vasodilator (Budavari, 1996). Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is used as a carminative, diaphoretic, and diuretic (Budavari, 1996). Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are used for their chloretic, antirheumatic, and diuretic properties (Williams et al., 1996). Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) inhibits viral development and tumor cell division (Chlabicz and Galasinski, 1986; cited by IARC, 1993), and burdock (Arctium lappa) is used as a diuretic (Leung, 1980; cited by IARC, 1993).

Many medicinal plants contain caffeic acid. In China, Du Huo (Angelica pubescens) is used in traditional medicine as a remedy for arthritis, lumbago, edema, and the common cold (Chen et al., 1995). The fern species Davallia mariesii is used in Korean folk medicine to treat the common cold, neuralgia, stomach cancer, and in Chinese traditional medicine to treat lumbago, rheumatism, toothache, and tinnitus (Cui et al., 1990; cited by IARC, 1993). In India, roots of the thorny evergreen shrub, Carissa spinarum, are used as a purgative and for the treatment of rheumatism (Raina et al., 1971; cited by IARC, 1993). Ixora jamanica flowers are used as an antitumor agent, gastric sedative, intestinal antiseptic, and astringent (Nair and Pannikkar, 1990; cited by IARC, 1993). In China, Korea, and Japan, the dried leaves of wormwood (Artemisia sp.) have been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, hematemesis, hematuria, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea (Kimura et al., 1985a). Elephant creeper (Argyreia speciosa) seeds exhibit hypotensive and spasmolytic medicinal properties (Agarwal and Rastogi, 1974; cited by IARC, 1993). Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) flowers have antispasmodic properties (Didry et al., 1980; cited by IARC, 1993)