A natural substance called ferulic acid, found in rice bran, can change how strongly the gut muscles squeeze, according to scientists at Toho University.
The research team, led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka, discovered that ferulic acid reduces the pull of intestinal smooth muscle by blocking special calcium channels that need electricity to work.
What Is Ferulic Acid?
Ferulic acid is a plant chemical called a polyphenol. It lives in many whole grains, especially in the outer layer of rice. People already know it fights oxidation and protects brain cells.
Less is known about how it affects the movement of food through the gut, a process called gastrointestinal motility.
People with IBS or IBD often have gut muscles that work too fast or too slow. The scientists wanted to see if ferulic acid could calm these abnormal movements.
Ferulic Acid Calms Gut Contractions
In lab tests using guinea‑pig intestine tissue, ferulic acid lowered the tight squeezes caused by several natural chemicals such as acetylcholine, histamine, prostaglandin F₂α, and serotonin.
The calming effect went away when the compound was washed out, and stronger doses caused a bigger slowdown. This shows the effect depends on how much ferulic acid is present.
Instead of blocking the receptors that the chemicals attach to, ferulic acid works in a non‑competitive way, meaning it interferes with a shared step needed for the muscles to contract.
Stopping Calcium Signals
Further experiments with blood‑vessel muscle cells showed that ferulic acid stops calcium from entering the cells when potassium chloride is added.
Calcium is the key signal that tells smooth muscle cells to tighten. By blocking the voltage‑dependent calcium channels, ferulic acid reduces this signal and helps the muscle stay relaxed.
Possible Good and Bad Effects
Because ferulic acid can slow down gut movement, it might help people who suffer from diarrhea‑type IBD by easing excessive muscle activity.
However, for those with constipation‑type IBS or for healthy people, slowing the gut even more could worsen constipation.
Human Tests Still Needed
The scientists note that the doses that worked in the test tube are higher than what we usually get from food.
When we eat or take supplements, the compound touches the gut directly, so the local amount might be higher than what appears in the blood. More studies are required to see if the lab results happen in real people.
This work sets the stage for future research on using ferulic acid in diets or supplements to control gut motion. Clinical trials will tell us who can benefit, how much to take, and whether it is safe.