Ingredient Dictionary

GALLIC ACID

Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid in which the hydroxy groups are at positions 3, 4, and 5.

Korean limit: 4.0%

GALLIC ACID Molecular structure — Molecular structure

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 4 list it before the 1% line and 1 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

5 of 5 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first

Definition

Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid in which the hydroxy groups are at positions 3, 4, and 5. It has a role as a geroprotector, an antioxidant, an antineoplastic agent, a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, an EC 1.13.11.33 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) inhibitor, an apoptosis inducer, an astringent, a plant metabolite and a human xenobiotic metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a gallate.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 632XD903SP · registered name GALLIC ACID · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Slows spoilage by oxygenANTIOXIDANT

Safety & regulatory references

Restricted: South Korea

Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name 没食子酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機酸である｡

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

GALLIC ACIDINCI갈릭애씨드Korean label name (MFDS standard)Benzoic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-Synonym没食子酸Japanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 149-91-7
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 205-749-9
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID0020650
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID60650

IUPAC: 3,4,5-Trihydroxybenzoic acid
Molecular formula: C7H6O5
Molecular weight: 170.12 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Gallic acid is an odorless white solid. Sinks in water. (USCG, 1999) · Colorless or slightly yellow solid, [Hawley] White hygroscopic solid, [ICSC] White or cream colored powder, [MSDSonline]
Boiling point: SUBLIMES (NTP, 1992) · 501.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Melting point: 432 to 464 °F (decomposes) (NTP, 1992) · sublimes at 210
Solubility: Sparingly soluble (NTP, 1992) · 1 G DISSOLVES IN: 87 ML WATER, 3 ML BOILING WATER, 6 ML ALCOHOL, 100 ML ETHER, 10 ML GLYCEROL, 5 ML ACETONE, PRACTICALLY INSOL IN BENZENE, CHLOROFORM, PETROLEUM ETHER.
Density: 1.7 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water, will sink · 1.69 kg/l at 20 °C
Dissociation constant: 4.21 · pKa = 4.40
Odour: odourless
Water solubility: (5%)
Relative density: 1.690 ()
Decomposition temperature: 250 ℃
Molecular weight: 170.13

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 4 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.

Antioxidant2
Astringent (EPA)1
Flavouring and nutrient1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

2 skin studies and 1 eye studies are on record.

Classed as moderate1

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

Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
SkinSens1
Skin Sensitization · QSAR Predicted
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across