Chemistry and pharmacological action of caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and pharmaceutical utilization of chwinamul (Korean Mountainous vegetable).

Chwinamul is a mountainous vegetable that refers to several species belonging to the family Compositae. Chwinamul has been used as a side dish or a medicinal herb to treat hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, common cold, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQs) are present in high levels in chwinamul, though caffeoyltartaric acids (CTs) are often occurred in the vegetables of Compositae. Here I review the chemical and pharmaceutical aspects of CQs and CTs. In particular, ¹³C-NMR data and CQ stereochemistry are discussed. CQ derivatives have antioxidative, peroxynitrite-scavenging, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antiobese, and antidiabetic activities.