Chlorogenic Acid

Chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound (Fig. 1) . It is an antioxidant and a carcinogenic inhibitor; however, its presence in oilseeds and grains poses nutritional problems. Chlorogenic acid found in the range of 2 to 4 g/100 g of defatted sunflower meal is a matter of concern. Inclusion of high levels of sunflower and rapeseed meal in animal diets decreases the hydrolytic enzymes and interferes with the utilization of various nutrients including protein, amino acids, and minerals. Breeding for a low-chlorogenic-acid-containing sunflower and developing the technology to remove chlorogenic acid from the defatted meal are major areas of sunflower research today.