Ferulic acid was originally found in the seeds and leaves of plants. It is a phenolic acid that is widely present in plants. It combines with polysaccharides and proteins in the cell wall to form the skeleton of the cell wall, and rarely exists in free form. It has a high content in Chinese medicinal materials such as Awei, Cimicifuga, Angelica and Suanzaoren, and is one of the effective components of these traditional Chinese medicines. Ferulic acid exists in edible plants such as onion and yellow chrysanthemum, and the content of ferulic acid in food raw materials such as rice husk, coffee, wheat bran, rice bran, bagasse, and sugar beet pulp is also relatively high. Ferulic acid has good pharmacological action and biological activity, so it has high application value in medicine, health care products, and cosmetic raw materials.
Structure and physicochemical properties of ferulic acid
The chemical name of ferulic acid is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, which is one of the derivatives of cinnamic acid (also known as cinnamic acid, 3-phenyl-2-acrylic acid), and the molecular formula is C. . HmO, if the molecular weight is 194.18, the melting point is 169.173 ℃
The structure of ferulic acid has two types: cis and trans: the cis structure is a yellow oily body; the trans is white to slightly yellow crystals, often in the form of square crystals or fibrous crystals. Ferulic acid is slightly soluble in cold water, soluble in hot water, easily soluble in ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, slightly soluble in ether, insoluble in benzene, can form sodium salt, and has good pH stability. Ferulic acid is easily decomposed when exposed to light and has strong antioxidant properties.
At present, high-performance liquid chromatography is often used at home and abroad for qualitative and quantitative detection of ferulic acid. In addition, ferulic acid can react with a freshly prepared mixed solution of ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide in a characteristic dark blue color, so this color reaction can also be used for qualitative identification of ferulic acid.
Preparation of ferulic acid
At present, high-performance liquid chromatography is often used at home and abroad for qualitative and quantitative detection of ferulic acid. In addition, ferulic acid can react with a freshly prepared mixed solution of ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide in a characteristic dark blue color, so this color reaction can also be used for qualitative identification of ferulic acid.
There are three main ways to obtain ferulic acid:
(1) Extraction from plant materials with high ferulic acid content such as angelica, vanilla bean, wheat bran and rice bran, and then obtain ferulic acid by alkaline hydrolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis.
(2) Chemical synthesis method: It was synthesized by Kno-evngael reaction with vanillin and malonic acid as raw materials.
(3) Biosynthesis method: use some microorganisms to convert ferulic acid precursors to obtain ferulic acid.
Physiological effects of ferulic acid
Anti-oxidation
Living bodies are always attacked by endogenous or exogenous reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicals, and hydroxyl radicals, which induce a series of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and cancer. At the same time, the generation of free radicals will accelerate skin aging, the generation of wrinkles, and the formation of pigmentation and age spots. Various antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant components in the body will remove excess ROS, but due to some reasons, the balance is disrupted and the body is in a state of oxidative stress. Intake of oxidants may reverse the stress and protect cells from reactive oxygen species. It can prevent or delay the occurrence and development of many chronic diseases. Numerous studies have shown that ferulic acid has very good antioxidant activity. Ferulic acid not only scavenges free radicals, but also inhibits and scavenges enzymes that generate free radicals.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect
Through experiments, it was found that ferulic acid has a certain inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast, but the effect on mold is poor. Bai Tuanli et al cited the discovery by western blot that the important monomeric ferulic acid could inhibit the replication of PrPsc protein in scN2a. It is speculated that the traditional Chinese medicine monomeric ferulic acid may have a certain therapeutic effect on prion disease.
Application of ferulic acid
Application of ferulic acid in the field of medicine
Now known ferulic acid and its derivatives have the functions of anti-oxidation, scavenging free radicals, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-ultraviolet radiation and improving human immunity, and drugs with corresponding effects have also been gradually developed. For example, sodium ferulate injection is used for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, piperazine ferulate tablets are suitable for the adjuvant treatment of various glomerular diseases with microscopic hematuria and hypercoagulability, and Some proprietary Chinese medicine preparations containing ferulic acid.
Used as antioxidant
Adding 75 mg/kg ferulic acid and 500 mg/kg sodium iso-Vc compound additive in sausage formula can effectively reduce the residual nitrite, improve the antioxidant performance of sausage, and maintain the original sausage. Sensory quality.
Application in the cosmetic industry
Ferulic acid is favored by the cosmetics industry because ferulic acid has strong antioxidant and oxygen free radical scavenging effects, and has the effect of inhibiting tyrosinase activity, which can delay skin aging and whiten skin. . In addition, ferulic acid has sun protection ability, and has good ultraviolet absorption near 290-330 nm, which can prevent and reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays of this wavelength to the skin.
The United States' Xiulike skin care products contain natural 15% L-Vc, 1% Ve and specially blended ferulic acid ingredients, so that the unique antioxidant capacity of Vc+Ve can be improved.
To sum up, ferulic acid exists in a variety of plants, has a wide range of biological activities, and has been used in medicine, food, and cosmetics industries, and has achieved good results. Structural modification and modification of ferulic acid may lead to the development of ferulic acid derivatives with stronger activity and less toxic and side effects. These studies will undoubtedly improve the application value of related plants.
