A monohydroxybenzoic acid that is 4-hydroxybenzoic acid substituted by a methoxy group at position 3.

InChI=1S/C8H8O4/c1-12-7-4-5(8(10)11)2-3-6(7)9/h2-4,9H,1H3,(H,10,11)

Vanillic acid is a potent free radical scavenger, thus, it exerts protective effects in isoproterenol induced cardiotoxic rats due to its free radical scavenging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. [1]
Vanillic acid has inhibitory effect on methylglyoxal-mediated glycation in apoptotic Neuro-2A cells.[2]
Vanillic acid has hepatoprotective effect on CCl4-induced liver injury.[3]

English website: Vanillic acid
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[1] Prince P S M, Rajakumar S, Dhanasekar K. Eur J Pharmacol, 2011, 668(1–2):233-40.
[2] Huang S M, Hsu C L, Chuang H C, et al. Neurotoxicology, 2008, 29(6):1016-22.
[3] Itoh A, Isoda K, Kondoh M, et al. Biol Pharm Bull, 2010, 33(6):983-7.
[4] Li K, Jia Y, Bi K, et al. Yakugaku Zasshi , 2004, 124(7):465-8.