Tryptophan

INCI: TRYPTOPHAN

CAS Number
54-12-6 (L-form) / 73-22-3 (DL-form)
Function
Antistatic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in cosmetics; also regulated as a dietary supplement (essential amino acid)

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Historical EMS (Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome) link was traced to a specific contaminated batch (Showa Denko, 1989), not to tryptophan itself; photosensitivity potential โ€” tryptophan metabolites can generate reactive oxygen species under UV; source verification important (animal vs. fermentation-derived)

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tryptophan safe in cosmetics?

Historical EMS (Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome) link was traced to a specific contaminated batch (Showa Denko, 1989), not to tryptophan itself; photosensitivity potential โ€” tryptophan metabolites can generate reactive oxygen species under UV; source verification important (animal vs. fermentation-derived) The EU classifies Tryptophan as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Tryptophan allowed in the EU?

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

What does Tryptophan do in cosmetics?

Tryptophan functions as: Antistatic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 54-12-6 (L-form) / 73-22-3 (DL-form).

What is the Margin of Safety for Tryptophan?

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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