阿魏酸的功能和应用

阿魏酸是植物界普遍存在的一种酚酸 ,在植物体内很少以游离态存在 ,主要与低聚糖、多胺、脂类和多糖形成结合态。它有许多保健功能 ,如清除自由基、抗血栓、抗菌消炎、抑制肿瘤、防治高血压、心脏病、增强精子活力等。阿魏酸毒性低 ,易于为人体代谢 ,其用途越来越广泛。阿魏酸在食品工业中主要用于制备天然香兰素、抗氧化剂、防腐剂、交联剂和机能促进剂等 ,阿魏酸可通过化学合成法和提取法获得

The function and application of Ferulic acid

Ferulic acid,4-(-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid,an effective component of Chinese medicine herbs,such as Angelica sinensis,Cimicifuga heracleifolia and Lignsticum chuangxiong, is a ubiquitous phenolic acid in the plant kingdom. It is mainly conjugated with mono-and oligosaccharides, polyamines, lipids and polysaccharides and seldom occurs in a free state in plants. Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid of low toxicity; it can be absorbed and easily metabolized in the human body. It has many physiological functions, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis, and anti-cancer activities, and also protects against coronary disease, lowers cholesterol and increases sperm viability. Because of these properties and its low toxicity, ferulic acid is now widely used in the food industries. It is used as the raw material for the production of vanillin and preservatives, as a cross-linking agent for the preparation of food gels and edible films, and as an ingredient in sport foods. Ferulic acid can be prepared by chemical synthesis and through biological transformation.