Ferulic acid

Ferulic acid
Names
IUPAC name
(E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Other names
2-propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-
ferulic acid
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid
3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid
4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid
(2E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid
Ferulate
Coniferic acid
trans-ferulic acid
(E)-ferulic acid
Identifiers
1135-24-6 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:17620 Yes
ChEMBL ChEMBL32749 Yes
ChemSpider 393368 Yes
DrugBank DB07767 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 445858
Properties
C10H10O4
Molar mass 194.18 g/mol
Appearance Crystalline Powder
Melting point 168 to 172 °C (334 to 342 °F; 441 to 445 K)
Hazards
NFPA 704
Flammability code 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g., canola oil Health code 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g., chloroform Reactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g., liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
1
2
0
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
 Yes verify (what is: Yes/?)
Infobox references

Ferulic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid, a type of organic compound. It is an abundant phenolic phytochemical found in plant cell wall components such as arabinoxylans as covalent side chains. It is related to trans-cinnamic acid. As a component of lignin, ferulic acid is a precursor in the manufacture of other aromatic compounds. The etymology is from the genus Ferula, referring to the giant fennel (Ferula communis).

Occurrence in nature

Ferulic acid is one of the components of asafoetida, the dried latex from the giant fennel (Ferula communis).

It is one of the phenolic compounds found in the invasive plant species carpobrotus edulis and contributes to the antibacterial[1] and antioxidant[2] properties of the plant.

In food

Ferulic acid is found in the seeds of coffee, apple, artichoke, peanut, and orange, as well as in both seeds and cell walls of commelinid plants (such as rice, wheat, oats, the Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) and pineapple).

In cereals, ferulic acid is localized in the bran the hard outer layer of grain. In wheat, phenolic compounds are mainly found in the form of insoluble bound ferulic acid and be relevant to resistance to wheat fungal diseases.[3] The highest known concentration of ferulic acid glucoside has been found in flax seed (4.1 +/- 0.2 g/kg).[4] It is also found in barley grain.[5]

Asterid Eudicot plants can also produce ferulic acid. The tea brewed from the leaves of yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius), a plant traditionally grown in the Northern and Central Andes, contains quantities of ferulic acid, as well as the tea brewed from the European centaury (Centaurium erythraea), a plant used as a medical herb in many parts of Europe.[6] In legumes, the white bean variety navy bean is the richest source of ferulic acid among the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties.[7] It is also found in horse grams (Macrotyloma uniflorum).[8]

In processed foods

Cooked sweet corn releases increased levels of ferulic acid.[9] As plant sterol esters, this compound is naturally found in rice bran oil, a popular cooking oil in several Asian countries.[10]

Ferulic acid glucoside can be found in commercial breads containing flaxseed.[11] Rye bread contains ferulic acid dehydrodimers.[12]

Metabolism

In plants, ferulic acid (right) is derived from phenylalanine, which is converted to 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (left) and then caffeic acid.

Biosynthesis

Biosynthesis of ferulic acid is by the action of the enzyme caffeate O-methyltransferase.[1] It is biosynthesized from caffeic acid.

Ferulic acid, together with dihydroferulic acid, is a component of lignocellulose, serving to crosslink the lignin and polysaccharides, thereby conferring rigidity to the cell walls.[13]

It is an intermediate in the synthesis of monolignols, i.e., the monomers of lignin, and is also used for the synthesis of lignans.

Biodegradation

Ferulic acid is converted by certain strains of yeast, notably strains used in brewing of wheat beers, such as Saccharomyces delbrueckii (Torulaspora_delbrueckii), to 4-vinyl guaiacol (2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol) which gives beers such as Weissbier and Wit their distinctive "clove" flavour. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (dry baker's yeast) and Pseudomonas fluorescens are also able to convert trans-ferulic acid into 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol.[14] In P. fluorescens, a ferulic acid decarboxylase has been isolated.[15]

Ecology

Ferulic acid is one of the possible plant compounds that initiate Agrobacterium tumefaciens to infect plant cells.

Extraction

It can be extracted from wheat bran and maize bran using concentrated alkali.[16]

Bio-medical considerations

UV visible spectrum of ferulic acid, with lambda max at 321 and a shoulder at 278 nm

Ferulic acid, like many natural phenols, is an antioxidant in vitro in the sense that it is reactive toward free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS and free radicals are implicated in DNA damage, cancer, and accelerated cell aging. Animal studies and in vitro studies suggest that ferulic acid may have direct antitumor activity against breast cancer[2] and liver cancer.[3] Ferulic acid may have pro-apoptotic effects in cancer cells, thereby leading to their destruction.[3] Ferulic acid may be effective at preventing cancer induced by exposure to the carcinogenic compounds benzopyrene[4] and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide.[5] Note that these are not randomized controlled trials done with human participants, and therefore, the results of these studies may not be directly applicable to human use.

If added to a topical preparation of ascorbic acid and vitamin E, ferulic acid may reduce oxidative stress and formation of thymine dimers in skin.[6] There is also a small amount of research showing oral supplements of ferulic acid can inhibit melanin production in the process of skin whitening.[17]

Other applications

As a precursor to vanillin

Ferulic acid, being highly abundant, may be useful as a precursor in the manufacturing of vanillin, a synthetic flavoring agent often used in place of natural vanilla extract.[7] However, biotechnological processes may be the most efficient method to use ferulic acid as a precursor,[8] and as such, research is still ongoing.

Mass spectrometry

It is used as a matrix for proteins in MALDI mass spectrometry analyses.[9]

Bitterness masker

Kraft Foods has patented the use of sodium ferulate to mask the bitter aftertaste of the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Purification and identification of active antibacterial components in Carpobrotusedulis L. Elmarie van der Watt and Johan C Pretorius, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 76, Issue 1, June 2001, Pages 87–91, doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00197-0
  2. ↑ Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and Carpobrotus edulis Extracts. Bouftira Ibtissem, Chedly Abdelly and Souad Sfar, Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, 2012, Vol. 2 No. 3, pages 359-365, doi:10.4236/aces.2012.23042
  3. ↑ Gelinas, Pierre; McKinnon, Carole M. (2006). "Effect of wheat variety, farming site, and bread-baking on total phenolics". International Journal of Food Science and Technology 41 (3): 329. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.01057.x.
  4. ↑ Beejmohun, Vickram; Fliniaux, Ophélie (2007). "Microwave-assisted extraction of the main phenolic compounds in flaxseed". Phytochemical Analysis 18 (4): 275–285. doi:10.1002/pca.973.
  5. ↑ Phenolic Compounds of Barley Grain and Their Implication in Food Product Discoloration. Zory Quinde-Axtell and Byung-Kee Baik, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2006, volume 54, issue 26, pages 9978–9984, doi:10.1021/jf060974w
  6. ↑ Valentão, P.; Fernandes, E.; Carvalho, F.; Andrade, P. B.; Seabra, R. M.; Bastos, M. L. (2001). "Antioxidant Activity ofCentaurium erythraeaInfusion Evidenced by Its Superoxide Radical Scavenging and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 49 (7): 3476–9. doi:10.1021/jf001145s. PMID 11453794.
  7. ↑ Devanand L. Luthria, Marcial A. Pastor-Corrales. Phenolic acids content of fifteen dry edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2006, 19, pages 205–211
  8. ↑ Kawsar, S.M.A.; Huq, E.; Nahar, N.; Ozeki, Y. (2008). "Identification and Quantification of Phenolic Acids in Macrotyloma uniflorum by Reversed Phase-HPLC". American Journal of Plant Physiology 3 (4): 165. doi:10.3923/ajpp.2008.165.172.
  9. ↑ "Cooking sweet corn boosts its ability to fight cancer and heart disease by freeing healthful compounds, Cornell scientists find". Cornell News. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  10. ↑ Orthoefer, F. T. (2005). "Chapter 10: Rice Bran Oil". In Shahidi, F. Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products 2 (6 ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 465. ISBN 978-0-471-38552-3. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  11. ↑ Strandås, C.; Kamal-Eldin, A.; Andersson, R.; Åman, P. (2008). "Phenolic glucosides in bread containing flaxseed". Food Chemistry 110 (4): 997. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.02.088.
  12. ↑ m., Andreasen; m., Nielsen; Knudsen, Bach; a., Meyer; l., Christensen; Hansen, H. Boskov; l., Larsen (2002). "Changes in dietary fibre, phenolic acids and activity of endogenous enzymes during rye bread-making". European Food Research and Technology 214: 33. doi:10.1007/s00217-001-0417-6. |first6= missing |last6= in Authors list (help)
  13. ↑ . doi:10.1104/pp.104.2.315. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ Huang, Z.; Dostal, L.; Rosazza, J. P. (1993). "Microbial transformations of ferulic acid by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pseudomonas fluorescens". Applied and environmental microbiology 59 (7): 2244–2250. PMC 182264. PMID 8395165.
  15. ↑ Huang, Z.; Dostal, L.; Rosazza, J. P. (1994). "Purification and characterization of a ferulic acid decarboxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens". Journal of bacteriology 176 (19): 5912–5918. PMC 196807. PMID 7928951.
  16. ↑ Buranov, Anvar U.; G. Mazza (15 August 2009). "Extraction and purification of ferulic acid from flax shives, wheat and corn bran by alkaline hydrolysis and pressurised solvents". Food Chemistry 115 (4): 1542–1548. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.01.059.
  17. ↑ Experimental Dermatology, August 2005, pages 601-608; Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, December 2005, pages 2368-2373; International Journal of Dermatology, August 2004, pages 604-607; Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, July–August 2004, pages 377-381; Facial and Plastic Surgery, February 2004, pages 3-9; Dermatologic Surgery, March 2004, pages 385-388; Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, March 2005, pages 272-276; Journal of Biological Chemistry, November 7, 2003, pages 44320-44325; Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, February 2003, pages 1201-1207; International Journal of Cosmetic Science, August 2000, pages 291-303; and Anti-Cancer Research, September–October 1999, pages 3769-3774.
  18. ↑ United States Patent 5,336,513

Notes

  1. a Shahadi, Fereidoon; Naczk, Marian (2004). Phenolics in food and nutraceuticals. Florida, USA: CRC Press LLC. p. 4. ISBN 1-58716-138-9.
  2. a Kampa, M.; Alexaki, V. I.; Notas, G.; Nifli, A. P.; Nistikaki, A.; Hatzoglou, A.; Bakogeorgou, E.; Kouimtzoglou, E.; Blekas, G.; Boskou, D.; Gravanis, A.; Castanas, E. (2004). "Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of selective phenolic acids on T47D human breast cancer cells: Potential mechanisms of action". Breast Cancer Research 6 (2): R63–R74. doi:10.1186/bcr752. PMC 400651. PMID 14979919.
  3. a b Lee, Y. S. (2005). "Role of NADPH oxidase-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of apoptosis induced by phenolic acids in HepG2 human hepatoma cells". Archives of pharmacal research 28 (10): 1183–1189. doi:10.1007/bf02972984. PMID 16276977.
  4. a Lesca, P. (1983). "Protective effects of ellagic acid and other plant phenols on benzoapyrene-induced neoplasia in mice". Carcinogenesis 4 (12): 1651–1653. doi:10.1093/carcin/4.12.1651. PMID 6317220.
  5. a Mori, H.; Kawabata, K.; Yoshimi, N.; Tanaka, T.; Murakami, T.; Okada, T.; Murai, H. (1999). "Chemopreventive effects of ferulic acid on oral and rice germ on large bowel carcinogenesis". Anticancer research 19 (5A): 3775–3778. PMID 10625957.
  6. a Lin, F. H.; Lin, J. Y.; Gupta, R. D.; Tournas, J. A.; Burch, J. A.; Selim, M. A.; Monteiro-Riviere, N. A.; Grichnik, J. M.; Zielinski, J.; Pinnell, S. R. (2005). "Ferulic Acid Stabilizes a Solution of Vitamins C and E and Doubles its Photoprotection of Skin". Journal of Investigative Dermatology 125 (4): 826–832. doi:10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23768.x. PMID 16185284.
  7. a Mathew, S.; Abraham, T. E. (2004). "Ferulic Acid: An Antioxidant Found Naturally in Plant Cell Walls and Feruloyl Esterases Involved in its Release and Their Applications". Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 24 (2–3): 59–83. doi:10.1080/07388550490491467. PMID 15493526.
  8. a Priefert, H.; Rabenhorst, J.; Steinbüchel, A. (2001). "Biotechnological production of vanillin". Applied microbiology and biotechnology 56 (3–4): 296–314. doi:10.1007/s002530100687. PMID 11548997.
  9. a Beavis, R. C.; Chait, B. T.; Fales, H. M. (1989). "Cinnamic acid derivatives as matrices for ultraviolet laser desorption mass spectrometry of proteins". Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 3 (12): 432–435. doi:10.1002/rcm.1290031207. PMID 2520223.
  10. Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau, Shyamali Saha, Meenakshi Malhotra, Michael Coussa-Charley, Imen Kahouli, Mitchell L. Jones, Alain Labbe, Satya Prakash (2012). "Probiotic Ferulic Acid Esterase Active Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 5221 APA Microcapsules for Oral Delivery: Preparation and in Vitro Characterization". Pharmaceuticals. 5 (2): 236–248. doi:10.3390/ph5020236.