Ferulic acid Cancer Research Results

FA, Ferulic acid: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Ferulic acid is an antioxidant found in some skin creams and serums.
Foods: popcorn, bamboo, whole-grain rye bread, whole-grain oat flakes, sweet corn (cooked)
Ferulic acid (FA) is a hydroxycinnamic acid abundant in plant cell walls (notably cereals/whole grains) with strong antioxidant and cytoprotective activity. Mechanistically, FA is frequently described as inducing Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant programs and suppressing NF-κB-linked inflammation, with additional model-dependent anticancer effects (cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, reduced invasion). Oral exposure is variable because FA is rapidly metabolized (often as conjugates) and bioaccessibility depends on the food matrix.

-Ferulic acid found in dietary strand fractions, especially its free form, has important functions for protecting the human health.
-AChE inhibitor (AD)
-Cooking results in an increase in free ferulic acid quantity and in a reduction in bound ferulic acid quantity.
Bamboo shoots       243.6 mg/100g
Sugar-beet pulp     800 mg/100g
Popcorn             313 mg/100g
Wheat bran	    500–1500mg/100g
Whole wheat flour   100–300mg/100g
            
Type of corn p-coumaric acidferulic acid
   mg/kg, DW mg/kg, DW
Yellow dent 18.9 265
American blue N.D. 927
Mexican blue 1.3 202
white 6.6 2484
Pathway / Target	Modulation by FA / Direction
Aβ aggregation	         ↓ Inhibits fibril formation and destabilizes existing Aβ fibrils 
BACE‑1 & APP	         ↓ Reduces BACE-1 and APP expression; ↑ MMP‑2/‑9 expression promoting Aβ clearance
Tau hyperphosphorylation  Implicitly ↓ through modulation of Ca²⁺/CDK5/GSK3β pathways
Ca²⁺         	         ↓ FA lowers STEP levels via chelation of Ca²⁺, suppressing PP2B → restores synaptic plasticity
(AChE / BChE)	         ↓ Inhibition of AChE (FA IC₅₀~15 µM, derivatives IC₅₀ down to 0.006 µM); also BChE
(MAO‑A/B)	         ↓ Inhibits MAO‑B (derivatives IC₅₀ ~0.3–0.7 µM), reducing ROS
ROS                      ↓ Scavenges ROS, enhances antioxidant enzymes (e.g., catalase), ↓ MDA
(COX‑2, 5‑LOX, NLRP3)	 ↓ Derivatives inhibit COX‑2/5‑LOX; derivative 13a ↓ NLRP3 inflammasome
Iron/Cu²⁺ chelation	 ↓ Metal-induced Aβ aggregation via chelation by FA and derivatives
Autophagy & Aβ clearance  ↗ Suggested promotion of autophagy mechanisms targeting Aβ
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 Nrf2 → HO-1 / ARE antioxidant response Stress adaptation modulation (context-dependent) Nrf2 ↑; HO-1 ↑; antioxidant defenses ↑ R, G Endogenous antioxidant upshift FA is repeatedly reported to promote Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO-1 induction; this is one of the most defensible “core” mechanisms.
2 NF-κB inflammatory transcription (COX-2 / iNOS / cytokines) NF-κB ↓; COX-2/iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokine programs ↓ (reported) Inflammation tone ↓ (tissue protective) R, G Anti-inflammatory signaling Often described as downstream of redox changes and upstream of reduced inflammatory mediators; direction is consistent across many inflammation models.
3 ROS / oxidative stress tone Oxidative stress ↓ (often); ROS direction can vary by tumor model Oxidative injury ↓ P, R, G Redox buffering (context-dependent) FA is classically antioxidant; in tumor systems, effects may be secondary to signaling changes and vary with baseline redox instability.
4 Cell-cycle control (Cyclin D1 / CDK4/6; checkpoints) Cell-cycle arrest ↑ (reported); Cyclin D1 ↓; proliferation ↓ G Cytostasis Frequently reported as later phenotype-level outcomes; direction and checkpoint phase (G1 vs G2/M) vary by model.
5 Apoptosis (intrinsic caspase-linked; p53 axis in some models) Apoptosis ↑; caspase activation ↑ (reported); p53/p21 ↑ (model-dependent) ↔ (generally less activation) G Cell death execution Apoptosis is commonly observed in cancer models but is not as “signature-direct” as for mitochondrial toxins; best treated as downstream/conditional.
6 MAPK re-wiring (ERK / JNK / p38) MAPK modulation (context-dependent) P, R, G Signal reprogramming MAPK direction depends on whether FA is acting primarily as anti-inflammatory/anti-stress vs antiproliferative; avoid hard arrows for p38/JNK/ERK unless model-specific.
7 PI3K → AKT (± mTOR) survival axis PI3K/AKT modulation (reported; model-dependent) R, G Survival/growth modulation Often listed in anticancer summaries; treat as “reported” rather than universal primary mechanism.
8 Invasion / metastasis programs (MMPs / migration) MMPs ↓; migration/invasion ↓ (reported) G Anti-invasive phenotype Observed as later outcomes (gene expression + phenotype assays) and commonly linked to NF-κB/MAPK context.
9 Radiation/chemo injury mitigation (supportive care framing) Adjunct potential: may reduce treatment-associated oxidative/inflammatory injury (context) Tissue protection ↑ (reported) G Cytoprotection Animal models report radioprotective/anti-inflammatory effects; present as supportive/adjunct rather than standalone anticancer therapy.
10 Bioavailability / metabolism constraint (conjugation; food-matrix dependence) Systemic exposure variable; much appears as glucuronide/sulfate conjugates Translation constraint FA is absorbed and rapidly metabolized; “bioavailability” varies widely with food matrix and binding to polysaccharides in grains.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (primary/rapid effects; early redox interactions / rapid signaling shifts)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (acute stress-response + transcription signaling shifts)
  • G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory adaptation and phenotype-level outcomes)


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3715- FA,  CUR,  PS,    The Additive Effects of Low Dose Intake of Ferulic Acid, Phosphatidylserine and Curcumin, Not Alone, Improve Cognitive Function in APPswe/PS1dE9 Transgenic Mice
- in-vivo, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*cognitive↑, "highlight2" >*IL1β↓, "highlight2" >*Ach↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*p‑tau↓, "highlight2" >*BDNF↑, "highlight2" >*APP↓,
4251- FA,    Antidepressant-Like Effect of Ferulic Acid via Promotion of Energy Metabolism Activity
- in-vivo, NA, NA
"highlight2" >*BDNF↑, "highlight2" >*ATP↑, "highlight2" >*Mood↑,
3783- FA,    Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Ferulic Acid-Piperazine Derivatives Targeting Pathological Hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease
- NA, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*IronCh↑, "highlight2" >*NLRP3↓, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*BChE↓, "highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*BBB↑, "highlight2" >*MMP↑, "highlight2" >*memory↑, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*Catalase↑,
3782- FA,    Ferulic acid ameliorates bisphenol A (BPA)-induced Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology through Akt-ERK crosstalk pathway in male rats
- in-vivo, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*cognitive↑, "highlight2" >*ERK↓, "highlight2" >*p‑Akt↓, "highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*BACE↓, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*MDA↓, "highlight2" >*GSH↑, "highlight2" >*GSSG↓, "highlight2" >*p‑tau↓, "highlight2" >*lipid-P↓, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓,
3781- FA,    Therapeutic potential of ferulic acid and its derivatives in Alzheimer’s disease—A systematic review
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*BBB↑, "highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*BChE↓,
3780- FA,    Ferulic Acid: A Natural Antioxidant with Application Towards Neuroprotection Against Alzheimer’s Disease
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*Catalase↑, "highlight2" >*HO-1↑, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*MMP↑,
3779- FA,    A review on ferulic acid and analogs based scaffolds for the management of Alzheimer’s disease
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*COX2↓, "highlight2" >*Casp↓, "highlight2" >*NOS2↓, "highlight2" >*HO-1↑, "highlight2" >*AChE∅, "highlight2" >*BChE∅, "highlight2" >*memory↑,
3778- FA,    Recent Advances in the Neuroprotective Properties of Ferulic Acid in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*NF-kB↓, "highlight2" >*NLRP3↓, "highlight2" >*iNOS↓, "highlight2" >*COX2↓, "highlight2" >*TNF-α↓, "highlight2" >*IL1β↓, "highlight2" >*VCAM-1↓, "highlight2" >*ICAM-1↓, "highlight2" >*p‑MAPK?, "highlight2" >*hepatoP↑, "highlight2" >*TLR4↓, "highlight2" >*PPARγ↑, "highlight2" >*NRF2↑, "highlight2" >*Fenton↓, "highlight2" >*IronCh↑, "highlight2" >*MDA↓, "highlight2" >*HO-1↑, "highlight2" >*Bil↑, "highlight2" >*GCLC↑, "highlight2" >*GCLM↑, "highlight2" >*NQO1↑, "highlight2" >*GutMicro↑, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*Ca+2↓, "highlight2" >*lipid-P↓, "highlight2" >*PGE2↓,
3718- FA,    Therapeutic potential of ferulic acid and its derivatives in Alzheimer's disease-A systematic review
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓,
3717- FA,    Neuroprotective Properties of Ferulic Acid in Preclinical Models of Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Literature Review
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*toxicity↓, "highlight2" >*BBB↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑,
3716- FA,    Ferulic Acid as a Protective Antioxidant of Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells
- in-vitro, IBD, NA - in-vivo, NA, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*ER Stress↓, "highlight2" >*other↑, "highlight2" >*angioG↑, "highlight2" >*Hif1a↑, "highlight2" >*VEGF↑, "highlight2" >*NO↓, "highlight2" >*SIRT1↑, "highlight2" >*PERK↓, "highlight2" >*ATF4↓, "highlight2" >*CHOP↓, "highlight2" >*GutMicro↑,
1112- FA,    Ferulic acid exerts antitumor activity and inhibits metastasis in breast cancer cells by regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition
- in-vitro, BC, MDA-MB-231 - in-vivo, BC, NA
"highlight2" >tumCV↓, "highlight2" >Apoptosis↑, "highlight2" >AntiTum↑, "highlight2" >TumMeta↓, "highlight2" >EMT↓, "highlight2" >TumVol↓, "highlight2" >TumW↓,
3714- FA,    Recent Advances in the Neuroprotective Properties of Ferulic Acid in Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*NF-kB↓, "highlight2" >*NLRP3↓, "highlight2" >*iNOS↓, "highlight2" >*COX2↓, "highlight2" >*TNF-α↓, "highlight2" >*IL1β↓, "highlight2" >*VCAM-1↓, "highlight2" >*ICAM-1↓, "highlight2" >*p‑MAPK↓, "highlight2" >*p38↓, "highlight2" >*JNK↓, "highlight2" >*IL6↓, "highlight2" >*IL8↓, "highlight2" >*hepatoP↑, "highlight2" >*RenoP↑, "highlight2" >*Catalase↑, "highlight2" >*PPARγ↑, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*Fenton↓, "highlight2" >*IronCh↑, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*MDA↓, "highlight2" >*lipid-P↓, "highlight2" >*NRF2↑, "highlight2" >*HO-1↑, "highlight2" >*ARE↑, "highlight2" >*Bil↑, "highlight2" >*radioP↑, "highlight2" >*GCLC↑, "highlight2" >*GCLM↑, "highlight2" >*NQO1↑, "highlight2" >*Half-Life↝, "highlight2" >*GutMicro↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*BDNF↑, "highlight2" >*Ca+2↓, "highlight2" >*lipid-P↓, "highlight2" >*PGE2↓, "highlight2" >*cognitive↑, "highlight2" >*ChAT↑, "highlight2" >*memory↑, "highlight2" >*Dose↝, "highlight2" >*toxicity↓,
3713- FA,    Protective Effect of Ferulic Acid on Acetylcholinesterase and Amyloid Beta Peptide Plaque Formation in Alzheimer’s Disease: An In Vitro Study
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*MMP↓, "highlight2" >*XO↓, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*lipid-P↑, "highlight2" >*ROS↓,
3712- FA,    Ferulic Acid: A Hope for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy from Plants
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*HO-1↑, "highlight2" >*HSP70/HSPA5↑, "highlight2" >*ERK↑, "highlight2" >*Akt↑, "highlight2" >*iNOS↓, "highlight2" >*COX2↓, "highlight2" >*cardioP↑, "highlight2" >*memory↑, "highlight2" >*IL2↓, "highlight2" >*cognitive↑, "highlight2" >*APP↓, "highlight2" >*SOD↑, "highlight2" >*Catalase↑, "highlight2" >*Akt↑, "highlight2" >*BioAv↑,
3711- FA,    A review on ferulic acid and analogs based scaffolds for the management of Alzheimer's disease
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*AChE↓, "highlight2" >*IronCh↑,
3710- FA,    Therapeutic Potential of Ferulic Acid in Alzheimer's Disease
- Review, AD, NA
"highlight2" >*antiOx↑, "highlight2" >*AntiCan↑, "highlight2" >*Inflam↓, "highlight2" >*hepatoP↑, "highlight2" >*cardioP↑, "highlight2" >*neuroP↑, "highlight2" >*Aβ↓, "highlight2" >*ROS↓, "highlight2" >*AChE↓,
1656- FA,    Ferulic Acid: A Natural Phenol That Inhibits Neoplastic Events through Modulation of Oncogenic Signaling
- Review, Var, NA
"highlight2" >tyrosinase↓, "highlight2" >CK2↓, "highlight2" >TumCP↓, "highlight2" >TumCMig↓, "highlight2" >FGF↓, "highlight2" >FGFR1↓, "highlight2" >PI3K↓, "highlight2" >Akt↓, "highlight2" >VEGF↓, "highlight2" >FGFR1↓, "highlight2" >FGFR2↓, "highlight2" >PDGF↓, "highlight2" >ALAT↓, "highlight2" >AST↓, "highlight2" >TumCCA↑, "highlight2" >CDK2↓, "highlight2" >CDK4↓, "highlight2" >CDK6↓, "highlight2" >BAX↓, "highlight2" >Bcl-2↓, "highlight2" >MMP2↓, "highlight2" >MMP9↓, "highlight2" >P53↑, "highlight2" >PARP↑, "highlight2" >PUMA↑, "highlight2" >NOXA↑, "highlight2" >Casp3↑, "highlight2" >Casp9↑, "highlight2" >TIMP1↑, "highlight2" >lipid-P↑, "highlight2" >mtDam↑, "highlight2" >EMT↓, "highlight2" >Vim↓, "highlight2" >E-cadherin↓, "highlight2" >p‑STAT3↓, "highlight2" >COX2↓, "highlight2" >CDC25↓, "highlight2" >RadioS↑, "highlight2" >ROS↑, "highlight2" >DNAdam↑, "highlight2" >γH2AX↑, "highlight2" >PTEN↑, "highlight2" >LC3II↓, "highlight2" >Beclin-1↓, "highlight2" >SOD↓, "highlight2" >Catalase↓, "highlight2" >GPx↓, "highlight2" >Fas↑, "highlight2" >*BioAv↓, "highlight2" >cMyc↓, "highlight2" >Beclin-1↑, "highlight2" >LC3‑Ⅱ/LC3‑Ⅰ↓,
1655- FA,    Ferulic acid inhibiting colon cancer cells at different Duke’s stages
- in-vitro, Colon, SW480 - in-vitro, Colon, Caco-2 - in-vitro, Colon, HCT116
"highlight2" >TumCP↓, "highlight2" >TumCMig↓, "highlight2" >TumCCA↑, "highlight2" >Apoptosis↑, "highlight2" >ATM↑, "highlight2" >Chk2↑, "highlight2" >ATR↑, "highlight2" >CHK1↑, "highlight2" >CK2↓, "highlight2" >cycA1/CCNA1↑, "highlight2" >CDK4↓, "highlight2" >CDK6↓, "highlight2" >cycD1/CCND1↓, "highlight2" >cycE/CCNE↓, "highlight2" >P53↑, "highlight2" >P21↑,
1654- FA,    Molecular mechanism of ferulic acid and its derivatives in tumor progression
- Review, Var, NA
"highlight2" >AntiCan↑, "highlight2" >Inflam↓, "highlight2" >RadioS↑, "highlight2" >ROS↑, "highlight2" >Apoptosis↑, "highlight2" >TumCCA↑, "highlight2" >TumCMig↑, "highlight2" >TumCI↓, "highlight2" >angioG↓, "highlight2" >ChemoSen↑, "highlight2" >ChemoSideEff↓, "highlight2" >P53↑, "highlight2" >cycD1/CCND1↓, "highlight2" >CDK4↓, "highlight2" >CDK6↓, "highlight2" >TumW↓, "highlight2" >miR-34a↑, "highlight2" >Bcl-2↓, "highlight2" >Casp3↑, "highlight2" >BAX↑, "highlight2" >β-catenin/ZEB1↓, "highlight2" >cMyc↓, "highlight2" >Bax:Bcl2↑, "highlight2" >SOD↓, "highlight2" >GSH↓, "highlight2" >LDH↓, "highlight2" >ERK↑, "highlight2" >eff↑, "highlight2" >JAK2↓, "highlight2" >STAT6↓, "highlight2" >NF-kB↓, "highlight2" >PYCR1↓, "highlight2" >PI3K↓, "highlight2" >Akt↓, "highlight2" >mTOR↓, "highlight2" >Ki-67↓, "highlight2" >VEGF↓, "highlight2" >FGFR1↓, "highlight2" >EMT↓, "highlight2" >CAIX↓, "highlight2" >LC3II↑, "highlight2" >p62↑, "highlight2" >PKM2↓, "highlight2" >Glycolysis↓, "highlight2" >*BioAv↓,
1289- FA,    Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Ferulic Acid on Renal Carcinoma Cell Line (ACHN)
- in-vitro, RCC, NA
"highlight2" >Bcl-2↓, "highlight2" >BAX↑, "highlight2" >Apoptosis↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 21 of 21

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 21

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 13,   ARE↑, 1,   Bil↑, 2,   Catalase↑, 4,   Fenton↓, 2,   GCLC↑, 2,   GCLM↑, 2,   GSH↑, 1,   GSSG↓, 1,   HO-1↑, 5,   lipid-P↓, 4,   lipid-P↑, 1,   MDA↓, 3,   NQO1↑, 2,   NRF2↑, 2,   ROS↓, 8,   SOD↑, 6,  

Metal & Cofactor Biology

IronCh↑, 4,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

ATP↑, 1,   MMP↓, 1,   MMP↑, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

PPARγ↑, 2,   SIRT1↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Akt↑, 2,   p‑Akt↓, 1,   Casp↓, 1,   iNOS↓, 3,   JNK↓, 1,   p‑MAPK?, 1,   p‑MAPK↓, 1,   p38↓, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

Ach↑, 1,   other↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress

CHOP↓, 1,   ER Stress↓, 1,   HSP70/HSPA5↑, 1,   PERK↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

ERK↓, 1,   ERK↑, 1,  

Migration

APP↓, 2,   Ca+2↓, 2,   VCAM-1↓, 2,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature

angioG↑, 1,   ATF4↓, 1,   Hif1a↑, 1,   NO↓, 1,   VEGF↑, 1,  

Barriers & Transport

BBB↑, 3,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

COX2↓, 4,   ICAM-1↓, 2,   IL1β↓, 3,   IL2↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   IL8↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 10,   NF-kB↓, 2,   PGE2↓, 2,   TLR4↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 2,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission

AChE↓, 7,   AChE∅, 1,   BChE↓, 2,   BChE∅, 1,   BDNF↑, 3,   ChAT↑, 1,   p‑tau↓, 2,  

Protein Aggregation

Aβ↓, 11,   BACE↓, 1,   NLRP3↓, 3,   XO↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

BioAv↓, 2,   BioAv↑, 1,   Dose↝, 1,   Half-Life↝, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

Bil↑, 2,   GutMicro↑, 3,   IL6↓, 1,   NOS2↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

AntiCan↑, 1,   cardioP↑, 2,   cognitive↑, 4,   hepatoP↑, 3,   memory↑, 4,   Mood↑, 1,   neuroP↑, 9,   radioP↑, 1,   RenoP↑, 1,   toxicity↓, 2,  
Total Targets: 88

Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:77  Target#:%  State#:%  Dir#:%
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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