Sodium ferulate, the sodium salt of ferulic acid, is a compound used in traditional Chinese medicine thought to be useful for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and to prevent thrombosis, although there is no high-quality clinical evidence for such effects. It is found in the root of Angelica sinensis. As of 2005, it was under preliminary clinical research in China. Ferulic acid can also be extracted from the root of the Chinese herb Ligusticum chuanxiong. Kraft Foods patented the use of sodium ferulate to mask the aftertaste of the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium. References Dietary supplements Food additives Bitter-masking compounds O-methylated hydroxycinnamic acids Salts of carboxylic acids Organic sodium salts Vinylogous carboxylic acids