莽草酸（3,4,5-三羟基-1-环己烯-1-甲酸）是一种易溶于水的白色晶体粉末。它因最早分离自日本莽草而得名，是一种植物和微生物的重要代谢产物。

1885年，旅日的荷兰化学家Johann Frederik Eijkman从日本莽草（シキミ，Shikimi）中提取得到莽草酸。但是直到1934年，莽草酸的化学结构才由德国化学家Hermann O. L. Fischer和Gerda Dangschat阐明。长期以来，莽草酸主要从八角茴香科植物八角或日本莽草（日本大茴香）等的干燥成熟果实中提取，近年来也有从北美枫香的果实以及松针中提取莽草酸的研究报道。

Shikimic acid, more commonly known as its anionic form shikimate, is a cyclohexene, a cyclitol and a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. It is an important biochemical metabolite in plants and microorganisms. Its name comes from the Japanese flower shikimi (シキミ, the Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum), from which it was first isolated in 1885 by Johan Fredrik Eykman. The elucidation of its structure was made nearly 50 years later.