The inhibitory effect of ferulic acid and related phenolic compounds on the growth of normal cell lines and can­cer cell line was evaluated by the MTT and XTT methods. Ferulic acid decreased the cell viability of human skin melanoma cells by the MTT method and the cell adhesion activity of human oral epithelioid carcinoma cells by the XTT method. These results suggest that ferulic acid has a potential anticancer activity.