Phenolic compounds are mostly found in the outer layers of
plants, such as the peel, shell and hull. They contain large amounts
of polyphenolic compounds to protect the inner componentsThere are two classes of phenolic
acids: hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. A number
of phenolic acids are linked to various cell-wall components, such
as arabinoxylans and proteins They are known to be good natural antioxidants
and exert various physiological effects in humans, such as preventing
oxidative damage of lipid and low-density lipoproteins and
reducing the risk of coronary heart disease