Citric acid

77-92-9

C6H8O7

DMSO : >= 150 mg/mL (780.76 mM)

Apoptosis; Metabolic Enzyme/Protease

Citric acid is a weak organic tricarboxylic acid found in citrus fruits. Citric acid is a natural preservative and food tartness enhancer. In Vitro: Citric acid induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. It inhibits proliferation of HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner, but also induces apoptosis and cell cycle-arrest at the G2/M phase (before 24 h) and S phase (after 24 h)^[1]. In Vivo: Citric acid is found in all animal tissues as an intermediary substance in oxidative metabolism. The administration of citric acid (1–2?g/kg) attenuates LPS-induced elevations in brain MDA, nitrite, TNF-alpha, GPx, and PON1 activity. In the liver, nitrite is decreased by 1?g/kg citric acid. Citric acid (1-2?g/kg) decreases brain lipid peroxidation and inflammation, liver damage, and DNA fragmentation^[2]. Citric acid supplementation increases intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption and the retention/intake ratio only in rats fed the 1% Ca diet. Citric acidsupplementation together with a calcium-rich diet allows to obtain an increased retention of calcium and phosphorus in bone. The prolonged administration of calcium citrate supplements may therefore help to increase bone mineral concentration^[3]. Oral administration of citric acid ameliorates ketosis and protects against the development of diabetic complications in an animal model of type 1 diabetes^[4].