Ethyl 4-methoxycinnamate

Ethyl 4-methoxycinnamate (also known as ethyl p-methoxycinnamate or EPMC) is a natural phenylpropanoid ester predominantly found in the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga (aromatic ginger or kencur). It is highly valued in both pharmacological research and the cosmetics industry, functioning primarily as a potent anti-angiogenic agent, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound, an anti-cancer modulator, and a UVB-absorbing sun filter. 

• Endothelial Disruption: It explicitly blocks the migration and tube formation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs).
• VEGFR2 Pathway Inhibition: EPMC restricts blood vessel sprouting by targeting and suppressing the VEGFR2 downstream signaling pathway.

• Enzyme Inhibition: It works similarly to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by directly inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes, demonstrating in vitro IC₅₀ values of 1.12 μM for COX-1 and 0.83 μM for COX-2.
• Cytokine Suppression: It blocks the excessive systemic production of core inflammatory cytokines, including Interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), and inhibits the formation of granuloma tissue.