Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a naturally occurring phenolic acid found abundantly in gallnuts, sumac, tea leaves, oak bark, and grape seeds. It is commercially produced through acid hydrolysis of tannins or enzymatic degradation of tannic acid.
Gallic acid is a potent antioxidant and serves as a key building block for hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins). It demonstrates antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties in preclinical research. Commercially, gallic acid is used in food preservation, pharmaceutical synthesis (trimethoprim), ink manufacturing, photography, and nutraceutical formulations.
