Natural compound found in rice and coffee may help relax heart arteries

Sudden narrowing of the coronary arteries—called coronary artery spasms—can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attacks, and other serious heart problems. Now, a research group has discovered that ferulic acid, a natural compound found in rice, coffee, and certain vegetables, can help prevent these spasms in two different ways.

The study is published in the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. The team was led by Dr. Kento Yoshioka, Dr. Keisuke Obara, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University.

Using porcine (pig) coronary arteries, which closely resemble human heart arteries, the researchers found that ferulic acid significantly reduced artery contractions caused by chemical triggers.

The study revealed two key actions of ferulic acid:

1. It blocks calcium from entering muscle cells through L-type calcium channels, which normally cause the arteries to contract.
2. Even when calcium isn’t involved, it still prevents artery tightening by stopping a specific protein (myosin light chain) from being activated, which is essential for muscle contraction.

Surprisingly, ferulic acid was sometimes even more effective than diltiazem, a widely used medication for relaxing blood vessels.

“Because ferulic acid is plant-based and considered safe, it may have potential as a health food ingredient or even as a foundation for future heart medications,” said lead researcher Dr. Yoshioka.

This research opens the door to new, natural ways of supporting heart health—possibly through diet or supplements in the future.