Provided are methods or processes for producing
ferulic acid from a
plant material, for example, a rice
bran or its derivatives. Provided are methods comprising an
ion swapping and
solvent extraction process followed by a
chromatographic separation operations that are coupled into a process which functions to recover a fraction rich in gamma-oryzanol, thus enabling the subsequent production of a high purity
ferulic acid. Provided are methods comprising an
ion swapping and
solvent extraction process followed by a process which functions to recover a fraction rich in gamma-oryzanol, or a mixture of
ferulic acid esters of phytosterols and triterpenoids, optionally comprising
cycloartenyl ferulate, 24-methylenecycloartanyl ferulate, and / or campesteryl ferulate, to enable the production of a high purity ferulic acid. Provided are methods comprising a
saponification and
solvent extraction process followed by recovering a fraction rich in gamma-oryzanol to enable the production of a high purity ferulic acid.