Shikimic Acid

Chinese herb Star Anise (Illicium verum Hook. f.) has been used in Chinese Medicine for centuries.  Instead of normal use to flavor ingredients, it has also been widely used for the treatment of indigestion, stomach ache, colic in babies, and even facial paralysis.  In recent years scientists have also found that star anise has possible cancer-fighting properties.

Our product, Shikimic Acid, is an monomer extracted from Illicium verum Hook. f.  Shikimic Acid is a key precursor of many alkaloids, aromatic amino acids, and indole derivatives.  It has also been widely used as a chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.

Now, Shikimic Acid serves as the starting material for Oseltamivir (the active principle of Tamiflu) which is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B.