A phenolic antioxidant with antimicrobial activity; hepatoprotective in vitro and in vivo, preventing CCl4 induced lipoperoxidation and reduction in polysomes in rat liver; increases expression of HIF-1α, EPO, and VEGF mRNA levels and the number of normal neurons in rat brains after forebrain ischemia; commonly added to foods to prevent autoxidation and microbial growth