*3.2.1. Ferulic acid and diferulates*

Most of the phenolic acids in maize grain are found in the bound form and in this fraction, the ferulic acid (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycinnamate) predominates. It is found esterified to arabi‐ noxylans from the hemicelluloses in the cell wall of the various structures of the maize kernel. Most of this acid in its free form is present in the germ, while its bound form is concentrated in the grain pericarp [18]. As noted above, the ferulic acid is mainly esterified to cell wall com‐ ponents. In the free form, it can be also found conjugated to different molecules, among which the most common are simple sugars and some amines [15, 16].
