Shikimic acid (SA), an active metabolite of polyphenol-rich food intake, originally extracted from Illicium verum Hook. fil. is an indispensable starting material for the synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir and others useful compounds. In the biological studies, SA has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, analgesia, antioxidant, antithrombotic, and antibacterial activities. SA can play an important role in reducing platelet activation, aggregation related thrombus formation and biomarkers of thrombogenesis in sedentary individuals. In addition, was investigated antibacterial activity of SA against S. aureus, which could be caused by the interactions of SA with S. aureus membrane proteins and lipids, resulting in causing cell membrane dysfunction and bacterial damage or even death.

Peracetic acid, also known as peroxyacetic acid, is an organic peroxide used an an antimicrobial agent. It is commonly utlized as a medical instrument and food industry disinfectant. Peracetic acid is also used in epoxidation of various alkenes, converting carbon–carbon double bonds into oxiranes. It is a strong oxidizing agent that can cause irritation to skin and respiratory tract.

Caffeic acid is an organic compound that is classified as a hydroxycinnamic acid. Caffeic acid is naturally found in many agricultural products, such as fruit, vegetables, wine, olive oil, and coffee, and therefore, significantly present in human diet. Caffeic acid has been reported to have a wide variety of biological activities, including antioxidants, antithrombosis, antihypertensive, antifibrosis, antiviral and anti-tumor properties. Caffeic acid can be effectively employed as a natural antioxidant in various food products such as oils. Caffeic acid exhibits potent anticancer effect in HT-1080 cell line and that it may be used as an anticancer agent. Caffeic acid showed neuroprotective action against oxidative and DNA damage produced in the kindling epilepsy model, although they did not produce antiepileptogenic effect in vivo. Caffeic acid was effective in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia. Detected in clinical trial caffeic acid-related adverse events were: mild nausea and elevation of liver enzymes.

Suberic acid, also octanedioic acid, is a dicarboxylic acid, with formula C6H12(COOH)2. It is present in the urine of patients with fatty acid oxidation disorders. A metabolic breakdown product derived from oleic acid. Elevated levels of this unstaruated dicarboxylic acid are found in individuals with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD). Suberic acid is also found to be associated with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, malonyl-Coa decarboxylase deficiency, which are also inborn errors of metabolism. Suberic Acid is used in the preparation of reduction-sensitive micelles affecting their cellular uptake. This has potential application in delivery of anticancer drugs. It is also used in the fluorescent detection of amidinium-carboxylate and amidinium formation.

Gamolenic acid also known as gamma-linolenic acid is a natural component of Oenothera biennis L. (Evening Primrose). Gamolenic acid was used for the treatment of breast painand atopic dermatitis in Europe, although now the drug is withdrawn from the market (there is no safety issue associated with the withdrawal of the licences). The mechanism of action of gamolenic acid is connected with its interaction with prostanoid pathway.

Cinnamic acid is a polyphenol found in cinnamon oil and used in commercial flavorings. Recent studies have shown the pharmacological properties of cinnamic acid and its derivatives, including hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic activities. In preclinical studies cinnamic acid demonstrated to be a promising candidate for the treatment ob obesity and diabetes. The mechanism of action of cinnamic acid in obesity is explained by its ability to inhibit lipases and ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). However, there are several hypotesis regarding the effect of cinnamic acid in diabetes: cinnamic acid enhances glucose-induced insulin secretion, prevents palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity, inhibits palmitic acid-induced alteration of lipogenic gene and protein expression (AMPK, SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC), inhibits DPP IV, exhibits an additive effect on the uptake of glucose, stimulates adiponectin secretion, etc.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a multifunctional intercellular phospholipid messenger. LPA stimulates the growth of a variety of cells including fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes. It is produced in relatively high levels from activated platelets and can be detected in bodily fluids including serum, saliva, follicular fluid, and malignant effusions. LPA acts as a proliferative and anti-apoptotic factor and is a ligand for LPA1 (EDG-2), LPA2 (EDG-4) and LPA3 (EDG-7) receptors. The plasma LPA level can be a useful marker for ovarian cancer, particularly in the early stages of the disease. It is known, that the therapeutic administration of LPA also blocked APAP-induced liver damage, leading to an increased survival rate by increasing the glutathione level but decreasing inflammatory cytokines in an LPA1,3,5-independent manner. Thus, LPA might be an important therapeutic agent for drug-induced liver injury. In addition, was shown, that LPA levels in plasma and ascites may be useful diagnostic biomarkers for peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric cancer.