Cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate is a potent inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase.

Lipoxygenases (LOs) are iron-containing enzymes that catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid into hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETEs) and other bioactive lipid mediators. In mammals, 5-LO, 15-LO, and 12-LO enzymes seem to have distinct roles in pathophysiological contexts, which have emphasized the need for selective inhibitors. Cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate (CDC) has been proposed as potent and selective inhibitor of platelet-type 12-LO (p12-LO).