Ferulic acid

Phenolic acid, which is soluble in water and ethanol.
Together with caffeic acid, it is one of the most common secondary plant substances in human food.
Both substances belong to the group of hydroxycinnamic acids.
Ferulic acid is mainly found in the outer layers of cereal grains, where it is bound to hemicelluloses via ester bonds.

Ferulic acid is found in roasted coffee in Allium sp., Angelica sp., Calendula sp., Chamaemelum sp., Cichorium sp., Cimicifuga sp., Cinnamomum sp, Citrus sp., Ferula sp., Geranium sp., Haematoxylum sp., Hedera sp., Lycopodium sp., Lycopus sp., Rhododendron sp., Sesamum sp., Thymus sp., Urtica sp. and others. A main source of ferulic acid (in food) is wheat bran. Wheat bran contains approx. 5.0 mg / g.

Ferulic acid has an antioxidant, neuroprotective effect, absorbs UV light, inhibits a UV-induced metalloproteinase,
The acid is used as an ingredient in soaps, skin care creams, fragrances and sunscreens.

1. Ghosh S et al (2017) New insights into the ameliorative effects of ferulic acid in pathophysiological conditions. Food Chem Toxicol doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.02.028.
2. Mancuso C et al(2014) Ferulic acid: pharmacological and toxicological aspects. Food Chem Toxicol 65:185-195.
3. Klepacka J et al. (2006) Ferulic acid and its position among the phenolic compounds of wheat. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 46:639-647.
4. Mathew S et al (2004) Ferulic acid: an antioxidant found naturally in plant cell walls and feruloyl esterases involved in its release and their applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol 24(2-3):59-83.
5. Sgarbossa A et al (2015) Ferulic Acid: A Hope for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy from Plants. Nutrients 7:5764-5782.
6. Staniforth V et al. (2012) Ferulic acid, a phenolic phytochemical, inhibits UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinases in mouse skin via posttranslational mechanisms. J Nutr Biochem 23:443-451.