SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
Research Insights to Natural Cognitive Support
Feru-guard® is a food for special medical purposes combining ferulic acid and Angelica archangelica extract, designed for the dietary management of patients with age-related cognitive decline. This page reviews the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy, mechanisms of action, and safety of Feru-guard®, while acknowledging limitations and adhering to scientific empiricism.
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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Clinical and observational studies supporting Feruguard’s formulation.
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Professional Healthcare Endorsements
Recommended by thousands of medical institutions and professionals in Japan.
KEY INGREDIENTS AND COMPOSITION OVERVIEW
Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid (FA), or 3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, is a phytochemical abundant in plant cell walls, particularly in cereal grains. It is a naturally occurring plant-derived compound included as a defined component of the Feru-guard® formulation. FA is derived from rice bran and is incorporated as part of the product’s defined composition for dietary management use under medical supervision.
Key Ingredient Profile and Composition Notes
Ingredient Identity and Source
FA (3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) is a plant-derived compound found in plant cell walls, with rice bran as the stated source material used for Feru-guard®.
Defined Formulation Component
FA is included as a defined component of the Feru-guard® formulation to provide a consistent composition per serving as part of dietary management.
Formulation Context (FSMP)
Feru-guard® is intended for the dietary management of patients with dementia and is to be used under medical supervision. It should be used according to instructions for use and professional guidance.
Note on Scientific Literature
Scientific publications may discuss FA in a range of research contexts. For transparency, relevant references are provided in the References section.
Angelica archangelica (Garden Angelica)
Angelica archangelica (Garden Angelica) is a biennial plant from the Apiaceae family. In Feru-guard®, Angelica archangelica is included as a botanical ingredient as part of the product’s defined formulation for dietary management use under medical supervision.
Ingredient Profile and Constituent Overview
Constituent Profile (Compositional Overview)
Angelica archangelica contains naturally occurring plant constituents, including coumarins and furanocoumarins.
Examples of Constituents Referenced in the Literature
Examples discussed in scientific literature include imperatorin, xanthotoxin, and related constituents. Feru-guard® includes Angelica archangelica as part of a defined formulation; references are provided for transparency in the References section.
Formulation Context (FSMP)
Feru-guard® is intended for the dietary management of patients with dementia and is to be used under medical supervision. Use should follow instructions for use and professional guidance.
Clinical Evidence of Efficacy
Studies on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Kudoh et al. (2020):
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated Feruguard in participants with MCI. The Feruguard group showed significantly better Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores at 24 weeks compared to the placebo group (p = 0.041). The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Jcog) scores were also significantly better at 24 and 48 weeks in the Feruguard group (p = 0.035 and p = 0.015, respectively).
Kimura et al. (2014):
An open-label trial with 28 participants with MCI found that daily ferulic acid and Angelica archangelica extract (3.0 g/day) for 96 weeks improved cognitive functions as assessed by the Japanese version of the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Jcog). The treatment improved ADAS-Jcog scores in 61.1% of the participants.
Studies on Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
Qiu et al. (2022):
A case report of a patient with the frontal variant of Alzheimer's Disease (FvAD) showed the efficacy of Feruguard in treating behavioral and psychological symptoms.
Kimura et al. (2011):
Feruguard treatment led to decreased scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory in 19 of 20 patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration or dementia with Lewy bodies and significantly decreased the score overall. The treatment also led to significantly reduced subscale scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.
Animal Studies
Mori et al. (2013):
In transgenic mice, oral FA treatment reversed transgene-associated behavioral deficits, decreased brain Aβ deposits, reduced β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 protein stability and activity, attenuated neuroinflammation, and stabilized oxidative stress.
FORMULATION AND DAILY SERVING COMPOSITION
Feru-guard® contains 200 mg of ferulic acid and 40 mg of Angelica archangelica extract per daily dose. The formulation is designed to provide a defined and standardized composition per serving as part of dietary management for patients with dementia, when normal diet alone may be insufficient to meet nutritional requirements. Feru-guard® is intended to be used under medical supervision.
Limitations and Future Directions
While the available evidence suggests potential benefits of Feruguard for cognitive health, several limitations should be considered:
Study Design:
Some studies are open-label, which may introduce bias due to the lack of blinding and a control group.
Sample Size:
Some studies have small sample sizes, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Further Research:
Further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings and establish Feruguard as a useful treatment for MCI and related conditions. More research is also required to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action and long-term effects.
References
Bramanti, E., Fulgentini, L., Bizzarri, R., Lenci, F., & Sgarbossa, A. (2013). β-Amyloid amorphous aggregates induced by the small natural molecule ferulic acid. J Phys Chem B, 117, 13816-13821.
Graf, E. (1992). Antioxidant potential of ferulic acid. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 13(6), 435–448.
Kang, S. Y., & Kim, Y. C. (2007). Decursinol and decursin protect primary cultured rat cortical cells from glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. J Pharm Pharmacol, 59(6), 863-70.
Kimura, T., & Takamatsu, J. (2015). Effect of oral administration of a dietary supplement (feru-guard) containing a mixture of A. archangelica extract and ferulic acid on memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Kimura, T., Hayashida, H., Murata, M., & Takamatsu, J. (2011). Effect of ferulic acid and Angelica archangelica extract on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and dementia with Lewy bodies. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 11, 1-6.
Kudoh, C., Hori, T., Yasaki, S., Ubagai, R., & Tabira, T. (2020). Effects of Ferulic Acid and Angelica archangelica Extract (Feru-guard®) on Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Prospective Trial. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, 4(1), 393–398.
Li, L., Du, J.K.; Zou, L.Y.; Wu, T.; Lee, Y.W.; Kim, Y.H. Decursin isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai rescues PC12 cells from amyloid β-protein-induced neurotoxicity through Nrf2-mediated upregulation of heme oxygenase-1: Potential roles of MAPK. Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2013, 2013, 467245.
Li, L., Du, J., Zou, L., Xia, H., Wu, T., Kim, Y., & Lee, Y. (2015). The neuroprotective effects of decursin isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai against amyloid β-protein-induced apoptosis in PC 12 cells via a mitochondria-related caspase pathway. Neurochem Res, 40(7), 1555-1562.
Mori, T., Koyama, N., Guillot-Sestier, M. V., Tan, J., & Town, T. (2013). Ferulic Acid Is a Nutraceutical β-Secretase Modulator That Improves Behavioral Impairment and Alzheimer-like Pathology in Transgenic Mice. PLoS ONE, 8(2), e55774.
Qiu, G., Xu, C., Guo, Q., & Zhu, F. (2022). Feru-guard Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in the Frontal Variant of Alzheimer's Disease: A Case Report.
Rajendran, P., Nandakumar, N., Rengarajan, T., Palaniswami, R., Gnanadhas, E. N., Lakshminarasaiah, U., Gopas, J., & Nishigaki, I. (2014). Antioxidants and human diseases. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 30(1), 11–26.
Sigurdsson S, Gudbjarnason S (2007) Inhibition of acetyl-cholinesterase by extracts and constituents from Angelica archangelica and Geranium sylvaticum. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci 62, 689-693.
Sowndhararajan, K., & Kim, S. M. (2017). Neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement potentials of Angelica gigas Nakai root: A review. Sci Pharm, 85(2), 21.
Yan, J. J., Cho, J. Y., Kim, H. S., Kim, K. L., Jung, J. S., Huh, S. O., Suh, H. W., Kim, Y. H., Song, D. K., & Yan, J. J. (2001). Protection against beta-amyloid peptide toxicity in vivo with long-term administration of ferulic acid. Br J Pharmacol, 133, 89-96.
Zduńska, K., Dana, A., & Kolodziejczak, A., Rotsztejn, H. (2018). Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and its Possible Application. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 31, 332–336.