Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCDs) are polyphenols
that are
abundant in cereals, coffee, tea, wine, fruits, vegetables, and other
plant-based foods. To aid in the clinical prevention and treatment
of Parkinson’s disease (PD), we evaluated in vivo investigations
of the pharmacological properties of HCDs relevant to PD, and their
pharmacokinetic and safety aspects. An extensive search of published
journals was conducted using several literature databases, including
PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Web of Science. The search terms included
“hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives,” “ferulic
acid,” “caffeic acid,” “sinapic acid,”
“p-coumaric acid,” “Parkinson’s disease,”
and combinations of these keywords. As of April 2023, 455 preclinical
studies were retrieved, of which 364 were in vivo studies; we included
17 of these articles on the pharmaceutics of HCDs in PD. Available
evidence supports the protective effects of HCDs in PD due to their
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, as well as antiapoptotic physiological
activities. Studies have identified possible molecular targets and
pathways for the protective actions of HCDs in PD. However, the paucity
of studies on these compounds in PD, and the risk of toxicity induced
with high-dose applications, limits their use. Thus, multifaceted
studies of HCDs in vitro and in vivo are needed.