What is the Difference Between Caffeine and Caffeic Acid

The key difference between caffeine and caffeic acid is that caffeine is a psychoactive drug, whereas caffeic acid is an antioxidant.

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system and it belongs to the methylxanthine class, while caffeic acid is an organic compound that comes under the class of hydroxycinnamic acid. Although the terms caffeine and caffeic acid sound similar, they are two different organic compounds having different effects and different applications.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Caffeine
3. What is Caffeic Acid
4. Caffeine vs Caffeic Acid in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Caffeine vs Caffeic Acid

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, and it belongs to the methylxanthine class. We can say that this is the most consumed psychoactive drug in the world. It is different from many other similar drugs because it is legal and unregulated almost all over the world. There are some known mechanisms of action for this drug that explain the effects of caffeine. Among these mechanisms, the most common one is the reversible blocking action of the adenosine on its receptors and consequent prevention of the onset of drowsiness which is induced by adenosine. Moreover, this drug stimulates certain portions of the autonomic nervous system.

Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Caffeine

When considering the properties of caffeine, it is bitter tasting, and it is a white crystalline purine. Moreover, caffeine is a methylxanthine alkaloid that is chemically close to the adenosine and guanine bases of DNA and RNA. We can find this compound in seeds, fruits, nuts, and leaves of some plants. Caffeine tends to protect these plant parts against herbivores.

There are many uses of caffeine which include medical uses such as treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants, Apnea of prematurity, Orthostatic hypotension treatment, enhancing the performance of the central nervous system, etc.

What is Caffeic Acid?

Caffeic acid is an organic compound that comes under the class of hydroxycinnamic acid. It is a yellow colour solid consisting of both phenolic and acrylic functional groups. We can find this compound in almost all plants because it occurs as an intermediate compound for the biosynthesis of lignin, and it is a principal component of woody plants as biomass.

Figure 02: Caffeic Acid Chemical Structure

There is a moderate level of caffeic acid in coffee, and it is a common natural phenol in argan oil. Moreover, we can find this compound at high levels in herbs, including thyme, sage, and spearmint. We can find caffeic acid in barley and rye grain at low levels.

When considering the uses of caffeic acid, it is an antioxidant in vitro and in vivo. It can also show immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity. There are mixed results regarding the research of caffeic acid related to carcinogenicity. As with other uses, caffeic acid is an active ingredient in caffenol made from instant coffee and a matrix in MALDI mass spectrometry analysis.

What is the Difference Between Caffeine and Caffeic Acid?

Although the terms caffeine and caffeic acid sound similar, they are two different organic compounds having different effects and different applications. Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system and it belongs to the methylxanthine class, while caffeic acid is an organic compound that comes under the class of hydroxycinnamic acid. The key difference between caffeine and caffeic acid is that caffeine is a psychoactive drug, whereas caffeic acid is an antioxidant.

The below infographic lists the differences between caffeine and caffeic acid in tabular form for side by side comparison

Summary – Caffeine vs Caffeic Acid

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, and it belongs to the methylxanthine class. Caffeic acid is an organic compound that comes under the class of hydroxycinnamic acid. Although the terms caffeine and caffeic acid sound similar, they are two different organic compounds having different effects and different applications. The key difference between caffeine and caffeic acid is that caffeine is a psychoactive drug, whereas caffeic acid is an antioxidant.

Reference:

1. E, Amra Lear L. “Caffeine in Skin Care.” DERMASCOPE Magazine – Skin Care Magazine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Caffeine structure” By Vaccinationist – Own work, based on PubChem (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Kaffeesäure” By NEUROtiker (talk) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia