Phenolic Compounds

Phenolic compounds are characterized by the presence of hydroxylated benzene(s). They are gradually diversified by the number of benzenes with attached cyclic or acyclic lateral parts and various substituted chemical groups (hydroxyl, glycosyl, methyl, acyl, etc.). Different phenolic classes include derivatives of benzoic (C6C1) and cinnamic (C6C3) acids, stilbenes (C6C2), coumarins (C6C3), flavonoids (C6C3C6) and tannins (polymers). These compounds are characterized by antioxidative activities due to the presence of hydroxyl groups and conjugated double bonds on the molecules. They include blue-red pigments represented by anthocyanin family of flavonoids. Phenolic patterns are at the origin of strong chemical polymorphisms helping for differentiation between different plant taxa.