Ferulic acid, chemically known as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid, is widely found in plants such as Ferula, Angelica Sinensis, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Equisetum, and other plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Ferulic acid exists in plants in very small amounts, free of charge. Most of it binds to intracellular lignin, polysaccharides, and proteins via ester and ether bonds, forming cytoskeletons.

Ferulic acid is a powerful phenolic antioxidant with antioxidant properties. It scavenges free radicals and promotes the synthesis of enzymes such as quinone reductase and glutathione. In cosmetics, ferulic acid not only effectively resists UV rays but also inhibits the activity of melanin enzymes and melanocytes, exerting anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, whitening, anti-inflammation, and other effects. It is an important raw material in whitening skin care products.

UV light can activate NF-κB signaling induced by keratinocyte kinase 2 (CK2). Inhibition of CK2 is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Experiments showed that approximately 30 μmol/L Fla could directly phosphorylate approximately 80% of the enzyme and inhibit CK2-induced phosphorylation of the enzyme in a dose-dependent manner. The results demonstrated that FLA could reduce UV-irradiation-induced inflammation by inhibiting CK2 phosphorylation and thereby suppressing NF-κB activation. NF-κB is a transcription factor associated with inflammation.