Shikimic Acid:A Highly Prospective Molecule in Pharmaceutical Industry

Shikimic acid (SA) is the key intermediate in the common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (the shikimate pathway). The benzene ring, the basic unit of all aromatic compounds, is formed in plants and microorganisms through the shikimate pathway and the intermediate SA is an extremely essential compound in plants and microbes. The most important use of SA is as a substrate for the chemical synthesis of the drug oseltamivir, commercially known as Tamiflu^®, an efficient inhibitor of the human influenza virus H1N1 of swine origin, seasonal influenza virus types A and B, and avian influenza virus H5N1. The fruits of the Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) contain SA to the extent of 17.14% on dry wt. basis and this is now the main source for commercial production of SA. The demand for Tamiflu^® has increased tremendously and the pharmaceutical industry is unable to meet this demand due to shortage of SA. Therefore, significant attention needs to be paid towards the development of new technologies for the production of SA from available sources and to find alternative sources.