Ferulic acid is a natural chemical that is found in the cell walls of plants.It is one of a number of natural plant chemicals, called phytochemicals, which are found in a wide variety of plant species. The official name for this chemical is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, and its molecular formula is C10H10O4.The chemical is synthesized within plant cells by an enzyme called omethyl transferase.