The ubiquitous compound 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid, also known as ferulic acid, constitute. A bioactive ingredient of many food that may offer a potential therapeutic effects useful in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, lung and cardiovascular disease. It is also effective against the disorders relative to oxidative stress, including certain neurodegenerative diseases. Ferulic acid is widely distributed in plants in either free or conjugated forms. Overall the pharmaceutical potential of ferulic acid can be attributed to its ability in scavenging free radicals. In recent years, it is also known to inhibit HNG-CoA reductase and activate glucokinase, thus contributing to the reduction of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. This review discusses the different properties of ferulic acid, establishing a relationship to several biological activities. FA is also used in a substantial amount in the food and cosmetic industries. So also, in recent years, it has been used as a cross-linking agent to manufacture edible food films. The review also discusses compound distribution, metabolism, and physiological role uses in the production of vanillin.
INTRODUCTION:Ferulic acid (FA) is the most important hydroxycinnamic acid found abundantly in plant tissue 1-3 . In the plants, FA is rarely found in the free form. It is mainly found as an ester crosslinked with polysaccharides in the cell wall 4-5 . Ferulic acid was first isolated and purified from the plant Ferula foetida in 1866 and was chemically synthesized in 1925 [6][7][8] . FA is basically a phenylpropanoid and exists as a crystalline solid. FA also play a functional role in the structural integrity of the cell wall as it is associated with cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin 9, 10 . Polyphenolic acids are secondary metabolites of a varying chemical structures and biological properties.