Regulatory Status
For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Lawsone. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOAEL | 2 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
Expert Verdict
Genotoxic and mutagenic - confirmed by SCCNFP in multiple opinions. No safe use level can be established per EU scientific committees. The principal coloring molecule in henna (Lawsonia inermis), present at 1-2% in dried henna leaves. Important to distinguish pure lawsone (banned) from whole henna plant extracts (separately regulated)
Regulatory Flags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lawsone safe in cosmetics?
Genotoxic and mutagenic - confirmed by SCCNFP in multiple opinions. No safe use level can be established per EU scientific committees. The principal coloring molecule in henna (Lawsonia inermis), present at 1-2% in dried henna leaves. Important to distinguish pure lawsone (banned) from whole henna plant extracts (separately regulated) The EU classifies Lawsone as "prohibited". Safety rating: MODERATE. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Is Lawsone allowed in the EU?
Lawsone EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Lawsone do in cosmetics?
Lawsone functions as: Hair dyeing (non-oxidizing hair colorant); historically proposed at up to 1.5% in finished products. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 83-72-7.
What is the Margin of Safety for Lawsone?
not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.
What is the NOAEL for Lawsone?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Lawsone is 2 mg/kg bw/day based on a Subchronic study via oral route in rat. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Compliance Tools
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Related Ingredients
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