What is "shikimic acid"

n. (context biochemistry English) A naturally occurring organic compound, ''3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic Acid'', extracted commercially from star anise; it is the base of very many natural products and is used in the production of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

Shikimic acid, more commonly known as its anionic form shikimate, is a cyclohexene, a cyclitol and a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. It is an important biochemical metabolite in plants and microorganisms. Its name comes from the Japanese flower shikimi (シキミ, the Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum), from which it was first isolated in 1885 by Johan Fredrik Eykman. The elucidation of its structure was made nearly 50 years later.

It appears in the list of Group 3 carcinogens of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Group 3 means that the agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. Nevertheless, it is recommended to roast tree fern fronds, a speciality called fiddlehead (furled fronds of a young tree fern in the order Cyatheales, harvested for use as a vegetable). These fronds are edible, but must be roasted first to remove shikimic acid.

Shikimic acid is also the glycoside part of some hydrolysable tannins.