Ferulic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid that is abundant in plants and originally derived from giant fennel (F. communis). This naturally-occurring phenolic has antioxidant activities that provide protection against inflammation and cancer. Ferulic acid methyl ester is a lipophilic derivative of ferulic acid, demonstrating increased ability to cross cell membranes. Ferulic acid methyl ester has less antioxidant capacity than ferulic acid in neuronal PC12 cells (IC50 = 74.7 μM for ferulic acid ethyl ester vs. 44.6 μM for ferulic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging). Ferulic acid methyl ester, at 10-25 μg/ml, inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, blocks the expression of COX-2, and reduces nitric oxide generation from LPS-stimulated macrophages.
