Homovanillic acid is a dopamine metabolite occurring in human biofluids. A high proportion of patients with neuroblastoma excrete increased amounts of it in their urine. Homovanillic acid is a major catecholamine metabolite. It is used as a reagent to detect oxidative enzymes.
Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as methoxyphenols. Methoxyphenols are compounds containing a methoxy group attached to the benzene ring of a phenol moiety.