Is Epicatechin safe in cosmetics?
Epicatechin has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Antioxidant
Epicatechin
Also known as: EINECS 207-710-1, UNII-34PHS7TU43, (2R,3R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol, 3,3',4',5,7-Pentahydroxyflavane, Epigallocatechin (+2 more)
INCI: EPICATECHIN
Epicatechin (CAS 490-46-0) is a cosmetic antioxidant functioning as Antioxidant; green tea catechin; HAT/SET free radical scavenger;. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted, max 0.5–5% (as component of green tea extract). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 490-46-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Antioxidant; green tea catechin; HAT/SET free radical scavenger; anti-inflammatory; minor catechin component of green tea extract
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
EU Max Conc.
0.5–5% (as component of green tea extract)
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No FDA restrictions. Typically present as part of green tea or cocoa extract rather than as isolated ingredient. No specific CIR final report. Generally regarded as safe at cosmetic use concentrations based on dietary safety data.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Epicatechin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
4 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "490-46-0", "ingredient_class": "antioxidant_pollution_shield", "primary_mechanism": "free_radical_scavenging", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation…
antioxidant
{"cas_number": "490-46-0", "antioxidant_class": "flavonoid", "chemical_subclass": "flavan-3-ol", "molecular_weight_daltons": "290.27", "orac_value_umol_te_per_g": "9800", "dpph_radical_scavenging_ic50_ug_per_ml": "14-26", "abts_trolox_equivalent": "0.87", "singlet_oxygen_quenching": "high", "superoxide_dismutase_mimetic": "moderate", "hydroxyl_radical_scavenging": "high", "lipid_peroxidation_inhib…
depigmentation
{"cas_number": "490-46-0", "ingredient_class": "tyrosinase_inhibitor", "primary_mechanism_of_action": "Flavan-3-ol with antioxidant brightening", "secondary_mechanisms": "Variable", "molecular_target": "tyrosinase", "tyrosinase_inhibition_IC50_uM": "varies", "tyrosinase_inhibition_type": "competitive", "melanin_reduction_pct_in_vitro": "25-45", "melanin_reduction_pct_clinical": "15-30", "onset_of_…
skin_suitability
{"oily_skin": "acceptable", "dry_skin": "acceptable", "sensitive_skin": "acceptable", "combination_skin": "acceptable", "normal_skin": "acceptable", "acne_prone": "acceptable", "rosacea": "acceptable", "eczema": "acceptable", "hyperpigmentation": "acceptable", "aging_mature": "acceptable", "dehydrated": "acceptable", "skin_benefit_primary": "antioxidant", "skin_benefit_secondary": "circulation", "…
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Epicatechin.
Regulatory Flags
antioxidant
polyphenol
green-tea
catechin
hat-set-mechanism
hydrophilic
extract-component
minor-catechin
natural-source
Known Synonyms
EINECS 207-710-1
UNII-34PHS7TU43
(2R,3R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol
3,3',4',5,7-Pentahydroxyflavane
Epigallocatechin
L(-)-Epicatechin
alpha-Catechin
Regulatory Lists
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
(-)-EPICATECHIN
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL583912
Max Phase
2
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Epicatechin allowed in the EU?
Epicatechin EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.5–5% (as component of green tea extract). This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Epicatechin do in cosmetics?
Epicatechin functions as: Antioxidant; green tea catechin; HAT/SET free radical scavenger; anti-inflammatory; minor catechin component of green tea extract. It is classified as a Antioxidant in our database. CAS number: 490-46-0.
Is Epicatechin used outside cosmetics?
Epicatechin also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Epicatechin compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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