Chlorogenic Acid: A Systematic Review on the Biological Functions, Mechanistic Actions, and Therapeutic Potentials

Publication Date:
2024-03-23

Institutions involved:

Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina
TritaliMed, Inc., Columbia, SC
Applied Physics Program, California State University San Marcos
Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri

Dosage:
CGA doses from 100–600 mg/day in human trials

Key Takeaways:

Chlorogenic Acid (CGA) may be the Swiss army knife of polyphenols, influencing multiple genetic pathways, organ systems, and mechanisms of aging with its broad-spectrum, polyfunctional capabilities.

CGA activates the Nrf2 pathway, upregulating key antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT, and GPx—supporting oxidative resilience across brain, liver, and cardiovascular systems.

Its multi-targeted action spans neurologic, hepatic, renal, and cardiometabolic systems—a polyphenol with truly systemic and nearly unparalleled scope.

Apple Poly Summary:

Why is this study important? This impressive review consolidates decades of research on chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol found in apples, coffee, and other plants, and a major component of Apple Poly®. It highlights CGA’s multi-targeted therapeutic potential across inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration— making it a keystone compound in the evolving field of scientific nutrition.

In Plain English: This paper explains how chlorogenic acid, a potent natural compound in apples and coffee, helps protect the body's vital organs. It can reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol, and protect the brain, heart, kidneys and liver. Chlorogenic acid is a broad-spectrum polyphenol with extensive beneficial effects across multiple organ systems.

For Medical Professionals: This systematic review outlines CGA’s pleiotropic effects across multiple organ systems, emphasizing its modulation of Nrf2, NF-κB, AMPK, and PPAR pathways. CGA demonstrates antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory effects in preclinical models, with emerging clinical evidence supporting its role in cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative disease prevention.

Abstract:

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a type of polyphenol compound found in rich concentrations in many plants such as green coffee beans. As an active natural substance, CGA exerts diverse therapeutic effects in response to a variety of pathological challenges, particularly conditions associated with chronic metabolic diseases and age-related disorders. It shows multidimensional functions, including neuroprotection for neurodegenerative disorders and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-pathogens, mitigation of cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney injuries, and anti-tumor activities.

Mechanistically, its integrative functions act through the modulation of anti-inflammation/oxidation and metabolic homeostasis. It can thwart inflammatory constituents at multiple levels such as curtailing NF-kB pathways to neutralize primitive inflammatory factors, hindering inflammatory propagation, and alleviating inflammation-related tissue injury. It concurrently raises pivotal antioxidants by activating the Nrf2 pathway, thus scavenging excessive cellular free radicals. It elevates AMPK pathways for the maintenance and restoration of metabolic homeostasis of glucose and lipids. Additionally, CGA shows functions of neuromodulation by targeting neuroreceptors and ion channels.

In this review, we systematically recapitulate CGA’s pharmacological activities, medicinal properties, and mechanistic actions as a potential therapeutic agent. Further studies for defining its specific targeting molecules, improving its bioavailability, and validating its clinical efficacy are required to corroborate the therapeutic effects of CGA.

Keywords: chlorogenic acid; inflammation; oxidation; metabolic homeostasis; AMPK; NF-kB; neuromodulation; chronic metabolic diseases

Nguyen, Vi, et al. “Chlorogenic Acid: A Systematic Review on the Biological Functions, Mechanistic Actions, and Therapeutic Potentials.” Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 7, 2024, p. 924. MDPI, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16070924.