Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid
What Is It?
Allantoin is a white odorless powder. Other Allantoin containing compounds that may be used in cosmetics and personal care products, include the Allanotin salt of vitamin C, Allantoin Ascorbate, and the Allantoin salt of vitamin B7, Allantoin Biotin. Allantoin complexes that may be used in cosmetics and personal care products include Allantoin Galacturonic Acid, Allanotoin Polygalacturonic Acid, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Allantoin Panthenol. Among the Allantoin containing ingredients, Allantoin itself is most likely to be used in cosmetics and personal care products. It is used in the formulation of bath products, eye makeup, hair care products, oral hygiene products and skin care products.
Why Is It Used?
Allantoin, Allantoin Ascorbate, Allantoin Biotin, Allantoin Galacturonic Acid, Allantoin Polygalacturonic Acid, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Allanotin Panthenol all function as skin-conditioning agents – miscellaneous. Allantoin also functions as a skin protectantAn ingredient that temporarily protects injured or exposed skin from harmful or annoying stimuli, and that may provide relief to such skin. In the United States, skin protectants are regulated as Over-The-Counter (OTC) drug ingredients..
Scientific Facts
With the exception of humans and higher apes, Allanotin is found in the urine of mammals. It is the primary form in which nitrogen-containing waste is excreted in the urine of these animals. Allantoin is also found in many plants, such as comfrey, horse chestnut and bearberry. Although Allantoin can be isolated from these plants, most Allantoin used in cosmetics and personal care products is made from urea and glyoxylic acid.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the safety of Allantoin and permits its use as an active ingredient in Over-The-Counter (OTC) skin protectant drug products at concentrations of 0.5 to 2%. The safety of Allantoin, Allantoin Ascorbate, Allantoin Biotin, Allantoin Galacturonic Acid, Allantoin Polygalacturonic Acid, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Allantoin Panthenol has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and based on the available information concluded that Allantoin and the compounds containing Allantoin were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients.
CIR Safety Review:
Allantoin was not an eye or skin irritant and it was not phototoxic. In genotoxicity tests in bacteria, Allantoin was not mutagenic. Allantoin has been shown to reduce the mutagenic activity of hydrogen peroxide. Allantoin was not carcinogenic. The dermal penetration of Allantoin in humans was shown to be dependent on the formulation. The greatest penetration observed was from a water/oil ointment. Therapeutic use studies of formulations containing 2-4% Allantoin did not report any adverse effects. Although no data were identified on the compounds containing Allantoin, the CIR Expert Panel has previously reviewed the safety of ascorbic acid, biotin, glycyrrhetinic acid and panthenol. Please search for these ingredients on this website for more information on their safety. Galacturonic acid as its polymerA naturally occurring or synthetic molecule made up of repeating units called monomers., polygalacturonic acid, is a major component of pectin, a polysaccharideA large group of natural complex carbohydrates with the general formula (C6H10O5)n where ‘n’ is a large number. Polysaccarides are easily hydrolyzed into simple sugars. found in the cellThe basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; cells may exist as independent units of life or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals. walls of plants and a common component of food.
Because of its common occurence in food, the CIR Expert Panel was not concerned with the safety of galacturonic acid or polygalacturonic acid following lower exposure through cosmetics and personal care products. Based on the data on Allantoin, and the CIR Expert Panel’s knowledge of the safety of the components in the other compounds included in the report, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Allantoin, Allantoin Ascorbate, Allantoin Biotin, Allantoin Galacturonic Acid, Allantoin Polygalacturonic Acid, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Allantoin Panthenol were safe for use cosmetic ingredients.
Allantoin and the Allantoin-containing ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..
More Scientific Information
Allantoin, which is a component of many plants including comfrey, has been reported to provide healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties and to help to heal wounds and skin irritations and stimulate growth of healthy tissue. When used in skin protectant products, it is regulated by the FDA as a drug. Allantoin, or (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)urea, is a heterocyclic organic compoundA compound that contains carbon and hydrogen and usually other elements such as nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.. In cosmetics and personal care products, Allantoin functions as a skin protectant and skin conditioning agent – miscellaneous. The other compounds containing Allantoin all function as skin conditioning agents – miscellaneous.
Resources
Find out more about the regulation of over-the-counter drugs by the Food and Drug Administration