Introduction
In recent years, ferulic acid has garnered increasing attention in the fields of cosmetics, food, and health supplements due to its potent antioxidant properties and natural origin. As a plant-derived phenolic compound, ferulic acid exists widely in rice bran, wheat, oats, and coffee beans, where it helps protect plants from environmental stress. Today, this remarkable compound has become an essential ingredient in skincare formulations, functional foods, and pharmaceutical products.
This article provides a comprehensive introduction to ferulic acid — including its chemical properties, natural sources, production methods, benefits, applications, and safety profile.
What is Ferulic Acid（CAS 1135-24-6）？
Ferulic acid (CAS 1135-24-6)is a natural phenolic compound widely found in plant materials, including rice bran, wheat, oats, coffee, and various fruits and vegetables. Its chemical name is 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, and its formula is C10H10O4. In nature, ferulic acid exists as part of plant cell walls and as a free phenolic acid, contributing to plant defense and structural integrity.
The main biological characteristic of ferulic acid is that it acts as a potent antioxidant. It can effectively neutralize harmful free radicals, making its value increasingly prominent in multiple commercial fields. Currently, ferulic acid is increasingly being used in cosmetics (especially anti-aging skincare products), functional foods, and pharmaceuticals due to its protective and health-promoting properties.
Chemical Information
- Chemical name: 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid
- CAS: 1135-24-6
- Molecular formula: C10H10O4
- Melting point：170–174°C
- Solubility: easily soluble in hot water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and other polar solvents, slightly soluble in cold water, and poorly soluble in benzene and petroleum ether.
- Stability: photolabile; susceptible to degradation under prolonged light exposure and elevated temperatures, which informs packaging, storage, and formulation strategies.
Natural Sources and Discovery History
Natural Sources
Ferulic acid is primarily derived from plant cell walls, especially from grains and their byproducts. Common natural sources include rice bran, corn bran, wheat bran, barley, oats, and other cereal residues, as well as coffee and various fruits and vegetables.
In plants, ferulic acid exists largely esterified within the cell-wall matrix, attached to polysaccharides such as arabinoxylans and to lignin, contributing to cell-wall structure and plant defense. It can also be found in free form in trace amounts within certain plant tissues, where it can participate directly in antioxidant defenses.
Discovery history
Early 20th century origins: Ferulic acid was identified as a derivative related to cinnamic acid, expanding the family of hydroxycinnamic acids with potential biological activity. Its recognition as a natural antioxidant and ubiquitous plant constituent emerged from foundational phytochemical investigations during this period.
Modernization and applications: In recent decades, advances in green chemistry and plant biomass utilization have further enhanced ferulic acid supply. Green solvents, enzyme-assisted extraction, and optimized process conditions have improved the feasibility of industrial-scale production from agricultural byproducts such as rice bran and cereal bran, supporting broader use in cosmetics, foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical research.
Production and Synthesis of Ferulic Acid
Naturally Extracted
The natural extraction method fully utilizes agricultural by-products such as rice bran, wheat bran, and corn residue. By using advanced enzymatic hydrolysis (using ferulic acid esterase) or traditional alkaline hydrolysis techniques, free ferulic acid can be efficiently released and separated from complex cell wall structures. Compared to the alkaline method using strong chemical reagents, the enzymatic method operates under mild conditions, ensuring high purity and yield of the product.
Chemical and biological synthesis
Chemical synthesis usually involves a series of reactions with oxalic acid and related intermediates to obtain ferulic acid, which requires subsequent purification to ensure purity and enantiomer control. Biosynthesis and microbial fermentation provide milder and more selective alternative routes, utilizing enzymatic reactions or conversion pathways to generate ferulic acid from precursor molecules such as oxalic acid and p-coumaric acid. This is often achieved through the combination of biotransformation, fermentation engineering, and photoanalysis techniques to achieve large-scale scaling up.
In contrast, biological/enzymatic processes have the advantages of lower energy and solvent requirements, less by-product waste, and easier implementation of green and sustainable production, making the industrial production of ferulic acid significantly competitive in terms of purity, cost, and environmental protection. In summary, the production of ferulic acid is advancing from traditional solvent methods to parallel green extraction and biosynthesis, to meet the high-standard demands of various fields such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and functional materials.
Product Advantages of Ferulic Acid（CAS 1135-24-6）
Strong antioxidant capacity
Ferulic acid has significant free radical scavenging ability, which can neutralize various reactive oxygen species and slow down the damage of oxidative stress to the skin, food, and other fields. This antioxidant property is not only useful in itself, but also works synergistically with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E to enhance overall stability and effectiveness, extending the product’s lifespan and shelf life. This characteristic makes it a core ingredient in antioxidant formulas, widely used in skincare products, food additives, and pharmaceutical preparations.
Stability and formula friendliness
Due to its photosensitivity and thermosensitivity, the stability of Ferulic acid requires packaging, carrier, or co-addition of antioxidants in the formula to ensure its effectiveness. The synergistic use with other active ingredients (such as combining them with vitamins C and E, or through encapsulation/sustained-release technology) can improve overall stability, enhance product performance in different environments, and ensure that the active ingredients maintain their efficacy level for a longer period of time.
UV protection and photostability
In sunscreen and anti-aging products, Ferulic acid can work synergistically with UV filters to enhance UV protection and improve the durability of sunscreen products. Its antioxidant network helps to slow down the photooxidation process, maintain color, texture, and functionality, thereby enhancing the overall performance of skincare products, especially in multi-component formulations with significant synergistic effects.
Comprehensive application and market potential
Ferulic acid has become an important ingredient in high-end skincare, food preservatives, pharmaceutical intermediates, and functional materials due to its excellent antioxidant properties, enhanced stability, and synergistic effects in sun protection. Its natural sources, good raw material supply, and increasingly mature extraction and purification processes further enhance production sustainability and cost-effectiveness, promoting its widespread application and innovative development in the global market.
Efficacy and Health Benefits of Ferulic Acid（CAS 1135-24-6）
Skin anti-aging and photoprotective effects
Ferulic acid is widely recognized as a highly effective anti-aging active ingredient, and its primary mechanism of action is to eliminate reactive oxygen species and effectively resist oxidative stress. It can protect the collagen fibers and elastin of the skin from degradation, thereby exerting anti-wrinkle effects and maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. In addition, the synergistic effect of ferulic acid and sunscreen makes it a key component for preventing and repairing photoaging damage.
Whitening and anti-inflammatory effects
In terms of skin care, ferulic acid exhibits dual effects of whitening, brightening, and anti-inflammatory. It interferes with the production of melanin by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase, helping to reduce pigmentation and dullness, and achieving a uniform skin tone. Meanwhile, ferulic acid has the characteristic of regulating inflammatory response, which helps to reduce skin redness and irritation, and has a soothing and maintenance effect on sensitive or inflamed skin.
Cardiovascular and neuroprotection
The benefits of ferulic acid extend far beyond the surface of the skin. After oral intake, it plays an important role as a systemic antioxidant. In terms of cardiovascular protection, it can inhibit LDL oxidation, improve blood circulation, and help prevent atherosclerosis and thrombosis. More noteworthy is that ferulic acid exhibits neuroprotective potential and is believed to potentially help protect brain cells from oxidative damage, with positive implications for cognitive health.
Widely used in functional foods
Due to its low toxicity, high biological safety, and strong antioxidant capacity, ferulic acid is widely used in functional foods and dietary supplements. It not only provides direct health benefits as a dietary antioxidant, but also acts as a natural food stabilizer to protect other nutrients in food (such as fats and vitamins) from oxidative degradation, thereby enhancing the overall nutritional value and shelf stability of the product.
Industrial and Cosmetic Applications
Cosmetic applications
Ferulic acid is widely used in cosmetics for its potent antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize free radicals and protect against photoaging. It often acts as a stabilizer for other actives such as vitamins C and E, enhancing overall formulation stability and boosting anti-aging efficacy in serums, creams, and moisturizers. Additionally, ferulic acid contributes to brightening and refining skin tone, making it a valued ingredient in anti-aging and brightening products.
Food and functional foods
In the food industry, ferulic acid is mainly used as a natural and efficient antioxidant and preservative. Due to its ability to inhibit lipid oxidation and rancidity, it is used to stabilize high-fat foods and edible oils to extend their shelf life and maintain the natural flavor of the food.
In addition, ferulic acid is also added to various functional foods as a dietary supplement to enhance the overall health properties and antioxidant value of products, meeting the growing demand for natural and healthy ingredients in the market.
Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
It is used as an active ingredient in anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective drugs, such as sodium ferulate, which is used to improve blood circulation and treat cardiovascular diseases. The research also continues to explore the huge potential of ferulic acid in the fields of neuroprotection and anti diabetes, consolidating its position as a multifunctional active substance, making it a high-value raw material across the nutrition and health care, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
Safety and Regulatory Status
Safety and Regulatory Status Overview
Food Safety and GRAS Considerations
Cosmetics and Dermal Regulation
Why Choose Runtai Chemical as Your Ferulic Acid（CAS 1135-24-6）Supplier
High Purity and Quality
Certified Manufacturing Excellence
Competitive Pricing and Reliable Supply Chain
As a major ferulic acid supplier, we offer highly competitive pricing without compromising on quality. Furthermore, our vast global export experience and optimized logistics network ensure efficient handling and fast, reliable delivery of bulk ferulic acid powder to any location worldwide, securing your production schedule.
