Methylhippuric acid is a

carboxylic acid In organic chemistry, a carboxylic acid is an organic acid that contains a carboxyl group () attached to an R-group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is or , with R referring to the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or other group. Carboxylic ...

and organic compound. Methylhippuric acid has three isomers. The isomers include 2-, 3-, and 4-methylhippuric acid. Methylhippuric acids are metabolites of the isomers of

xylene In organic chemistry, xylene or xylol (; IUPAC name: dimethylbenzene) are any of three organic compounds with the formula . They are derived from the substitution of two hydrogen atoms with methyl groups in a benzene ring; which hydrogens are sub ...

. The presence of methylhippuric acid can be used as a

biomarker In biomedical contexts, a biomarker, or biological marker, is a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition. Biomarkers are often measured and evaluated using blood, urine, or soft tissues to examine normal biological processes, ...

to determine exposure to xylene.

References

{{Reflist Carboxylic acids Benzamides Human metabolites

See also

References