Lowering blood lipids: Ferulic acid can competitively inhibit the activity of hydroxyvalerate-5-pyrophosphate dehydrogenase in the liver and inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, thereby achieving the purpose of lowering blood lipids.
Antibacterial effect: Ferulic acid has a broader inhibitory effect on bacteria. It has been found that ferulic acid can inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria such as Shigella sonnei, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter barbarum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 11 microorganisms that cause food spoilage.
Food industry: In addition to its wide application in medicine, some countries have approved it as a food additive. Japan has allowed it to be used as a food antioxidant, while the United States and some European countries allow the use of some herbs, Chemicalbook coffee, vanilla beans, etc. containing high amounts of ferulic acid as antioxidants. Ferulic acid is mainly used in the food industry to prepare natural vanillin, antioxidants, preservatives, cross-linking agents and functional promoters.
Pharmacological effects: Ferulic acid has the effects of inhibiting platelet aggregation, expectorant, and inhibiting tuberculosis. Clinically, ferulic acid is mainly used for the adjuvant treatment of vascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, glomerular disease, pulmonary hypertension, diabetic vascular disease, vasculitis, and leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. It can be used for the treatment of migraine and vascular headache. As a leukocyte-raising drug, this drug also has the effect of enhancing hematopoietic function. Therefore, ferulic acid can also be used for the treatment of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Reference: Xu Jingfeng, Yang Benming, ed. Clinical Prescription Drug Manual. Nanjing: Jiangsu Science and Technology Press. 2009. Page 561.
Chemical properties: The cis isomer is a yellow oil. The trans isomer is an oblique pin-shaped crystal (water). Soluble in hot water, ethanol and ethyl acetate. More soluble in ether, slightly soluble in benzene and petroleum ether.
Ferulic acid has multiple functions in cosmetics, including anti-oxidation, whitening, anti-inflammatory and sun protection.
Ferulic acid is a compound with phenolic hydroxyl groups. This structure makes it extremely lethal to superoxide free radicals, hydroxyl free radicals, etc. It can effectively capture the lone pair of electrons of free radicals, turning free radicals into stable molecules, thereby blocking electron transfer and protecting the body from oxidative damage. In cosmetics, the antioxidant effect of ferulic acid can help remove and inhibit free radicals, reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to the skin, enhance the skin's resistance, and keep the skin translucent and healthy12.
In addition to anti-oxidation, ferulic acid also has a whitening effect. Studies have shown that ferulic acid can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, thereby reducing the production of melanin, and has a certain effect on freckle removal and whitening. A research team from Kyungpook National University in South Korea found that ferulic acid can inhibit melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity at the cellular level, which is of great significance for whitening and skin care23.
The anti-inflammatory effect of ferulic acid is also one of its applications in cosmetics. Due to its powerful antioxidant effect, ferulic acid can inhibit the levels of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin PEG2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and reduce the damage to the skin caused by extreme external conditions. This is helpful for improving skin problems, such as seborrheic dermatitis or acne. 3.
In addition, ferulic acid also has sunscreen isolation ability, which can reasonably absorb ultraviolet rays in the wavelength range of 290-330nm, prevent or reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays of this wavelength to the skin, and further protect the skin from damage. 2.
In summary, the role of ferulic acid in cosmetics is mainly reflected in anti-oxidation, whitening, anti-inflammatory and sunscreen, and it is a multifunctional beauty ingredient.