3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is a dihydroxybenzoic acid in which the hydroxy groups are located at positions 3 and 4.
Definition
3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid is a dihydroxybenzoic acid in which the hydroxy groups are located at positions 3 and 4. It has a role as an EC 1.14.11.2 (procollagen-proline dioxygenase) inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent, a plant metabolite, a human xenobiotic metabolite and an EC 1.1.1.25 (shikimate dehydrogenase) inhibitor. It is a dihydroxybenzoic acid and a member of catechols. It is functionally related to a benzoic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 36R5QJ8L4B · registered name 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name ３，４－ジヒドロキシ安息香酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 99-50-3
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 202-760-0
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID4021212
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID601212
- IUPAC
- 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid
- Molecular formula
- C7H6O4
- Molecular weight
- 154.121 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- White to brownish solid, Discolored by air, [Merck Index] · Solid
- Melting point
- 221 dec °C · 221 °C
- Solubility
- 18200 mg/L (at 14 °C) · 18.2 mg/mL at 14 °C
- Dissociation constant
- 4.26 (at 25 °C)
Values measured on the substance itself, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem
What products actually use it for
What the 2 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Humectant1
- Flavouring and nutrient1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
2 skin studies and 1 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 3 studies
- SkinSens1
Skin Sensitization · QSAR Predicted - Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Isolation and Purification of Potential Major Active Antioxidant Constituent From Artocarpus heterophyllus J33 Variety Rind Extract · 2025
- Synthesis of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives in Escherichia coli. · 2020
- Determination of Bioactive Compounds and Mineral Contents of Seedless Parts and Seeds of Grapes · 2017
- Biofunctional Constituents from Michelia compressa var. lanyuensis with Anti-Melanogenic Properties · 2015
- Phenolic components and antioxidant activity of Fernblock, an aqueous extract of the aerial parts of the fern Polypodium leucotomos. · 2006
Linked databases 16
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · English · Japanese · Chinese