Is Ergothioneine safe in cosmetics?
Ergothioneine has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Active Ingredient
Ergothioneine
Also known as: (S)-(1-Carboxy-2-(2-mercaptoimidazol-4-yl)ethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide List Acronyms, 1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, hydroxide, inner salt, 1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, inner salt, (alphaS)-, 1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, inner salt, (S)-, 1H-Imidazole-4-ethaniminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, hydroxide, inner salt, (S)- (+2 more)
INCI: ERGOTHIONEINE
Ergothioneine (CAS 497-30-3) is a cosmetic active ingredient functioning as Insufficient Data. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted, max 7.5%. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 497-30-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Insufficient Data
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
EU Max Conc.
7.5%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not listed in FDA OTC Drug Monograph
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Ergothioneine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "497-30-3", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-10", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "antioxidant-protection, anti-inflammatory", "mechanism_of_action": "Cofactor for enzymatic reactions, antioxidant activity", "target_skin_layer": "epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "Mild", "elastin_protection": "Mild", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "10-18", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "12", "sample_size": "30", "double_blind": "Yes", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "497-30-3", "ingredient_class": "antioxidant_pollution_shield", "primary_mechanism": "free_radical_scavenging", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5/UV_A", "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_modul…
antioxidant
{"cas_number": "497-30-3", "antioxidant_class": "thiol", "chemical_subclass": "thioimidazole betaine", "molecular_weight_daltons": "229.3", "orac_value_umol_te_per_g": "2800", "dpph_radical_scavenging_ic50_ug_per_ml": "8-15", "abts_trolox_equivalent": "1.3", "singlet_oxygen_quenching": "very high", "superoxide_dismutase_mimetic": "yes", "hydroxyl_radical_scavenging": "very high", "lipid_peroxidati…
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "luxury", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "2500", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "4500", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "0", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "0", "supply_chain_volatility": "high", "primary_source_region": "France/Japan", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "0.5", "seasonal_price_variation": "high", "commodity_or_specialty": "specialty", "substitute_ingredients": "Gluta…
fermentation
{"cas_number": "proprietary", "ingredient_class": "precision_fermentation", "production_organism": "bacteria", "fermentation_type": "aerobic", "substrate_feedstock": "sugarcane, glucose, glycerol", "bioactive_compounds_produced": "ergothioneine antioxidant", "mechanism_of_action_skin": "varies by ingredient - antioxidant, hydration, barrier protection", "skin_benefit_primary": "antioxidant", "skin…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "5.0", "optimal_ph_max": "7.0", "stable_ph_min": "4.5", "stable_ph_max": "7.5", "degrades_above_ph": "8.0", "degrades_below_ph": "4.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Amino acid antioxidant", "formulation_note": "Exceptionally stable", "source": "Formulation literature"}
self_tanning
{"cas_number": "497-30-3", "ingredient_class": "tan_extender", "tanning_mechanism": "other", "color_development_onset_hours": "0.0", "full_color_development_hours": "0", "color_duration_days": "0", "DHA_concentration_if_applicable_pct": "0", "erythrulose_concentration_pct": "0", "pH_dependent_color": "no", "formaldehyde_release_concern": "no", "formaldehyde_release_ppm": "0", "AGE_formation_concer…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Ergothioneine.
Known Synonyms
(S)-(1-Carboxy-2-(2-mercaptoimidazol-4-yl)ethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide List Acronyms
1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, hydroxide, inner salt
1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, inner salt, (alphaS)-
1H-Imidazole-4-ethanaminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, inner salt, (S)-
1H-Imidazole-4-ethaniminium, alpha-carboxy-2,3-dihydro-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-thioxo-, hydroxide, inner salt, (S)-
Ammonium, (1-carboxy-2-(2-mercaptoimidazol-4-yl)ethyl)trimethyl-, hydroxide, inner salt, L-(+)-
L-Ergothioneine
Chemical Function
Antioxidant
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
fda_gras_enriched
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Ergothioneine
FDA GRAS
FDA has no questions
GRN
734
For use as a nutrient supplement in cakes, cookies, pastries (including granola bars); coffee; tea; fruit drinks and ades; carbonated soft drinks; and candy containing chocolate at a levels intended to provide 5 mg/serving ergothionine.
View full food safety profile →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ergothioneine allowed in the EU?
Ergothioneine EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 7.5%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Ergothioneine do in cosmetics?
Ergothioneine functions as: Insufficient Data. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 497-30-3.
Is Ergothioneine used outside cosmetics?
Ergothioneine also appears in food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
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Ingredient Decoder
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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