Moderate Antioxidant

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid

INCI: NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID

CAS Number
500-38-9
Function
Antioxidant, Sebum Control, Photoprotective Agent
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Former GRAS status for food use withdrawn by FDA due to nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in animal studies. No specific FDA restriction on cosmetic use.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

NDGA is a potent antioxidant permitted in EU cosmetics without concentration limits, though it lacks both SCCS and CIR safety opinions. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity documented in animal oral/IP studies, but topical application at 3% showed negligible systemic absorption.

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Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor fda_food_additive jecfa_concern

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid safe in cosmetics?

NDGA is a potent antioxidant permitted in EU cosmetics without concentration limits, though it lacks both SCCS and CIR safety opinions. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity documented in animal oral/IP studies, but topical application at 3% showed negligible systemic absorption. The EU classifies Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid allowed in the EU?

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid do in cosmetics?

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid functions as: Antioxidant, Sebum Control, Photoprotective Agent. It is classified as a Antioxidant in our database. CAS number: 500-38-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid?

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.

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