Genistein
- CAS
- 446-72-0
- EC
- 207-174-9
- PubChem CID
- 5280961
- Molecular Formula
- C15H10O5
- Molecular Weight
- 270.2400 g/mol
Skin regenerator and antioxidant. Long-term use in large quantities may harm hormonal balance. EU limit is 0.007%.
What does it do?
Used as an antioxidant and skin conditioner in skin care products.
Details
An isoflavone found in plants such as soy, used in skin care products as an antioxidant and skin conditioner. It can interfere with hormonal balance as it may exhibit estrogen-like effects in the body. For this reason, the EU has banned its use in cosmetic products above 0.007%.
Hazards
Benefits
Functions
Restrictions
Where is it found?
Function & Use
Skin Conditioning
Usage Restrictions
- Maximum Concentration - 0.007%
SCCS maximum concentration; safe: up to 0.007% (SCCS/1641/22)
- Leave-on Maximum - 0.02%
leave-on products
- Use Condition - 2µg/kg bw/day
sed to ≥2 mg/kg bw/day
Regulatory note
- EU 1223/2009 Annex IIIRestricted
Maximum concentration: 0.007%
Industry GHS notices (PubChem)
These are industry self-reports to ECHA, not our regulatory assessment.
- H302(87.5%)- Harmful if swallowed
- H315(37.5%)- Causes skin irritation
- H319(37.5%)- Causes serious eye irritation
- H335(37.5%)- May cause respiratory irritation
- H400(33.0%)- Very toxic to aquatic life
- H410(33.0%)- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
What The Sources Say
SCCS (EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety)5
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: preliminary version of 12 January 2022
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: final version of 16 September 2022
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: Scientific opinion on genistein and daidzein
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: SCCS/1641/22
EU 1223/2009 Annex III — SCCS opinion: corrigendum of 11 October 2022
ToxValDB (EPA Toxicity Value Database)1
EPA ToxValDB genotoxicity: positive — positive reports: 1, negative: 0, Ames: positive. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxCast (high-throughput in vitro screening)1
EPA ToxCast ER model: estrogen receptor AGONIST (AUC agonist=0.538). Model call derived from 18 in vitro assays. Caveat: this is an in vitro screening model with no dose or exposure context; it does NOT mean an effect occurs in humans at cosmetic use levels.
Scientific References
- corrigendum of 11 October 2022SCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- ECHA CLP — GHS Classification (via PubChem pug_view, heading=GHS)ECHA C&L Inventory / Annex VI, aggregated by PubChem
- EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DSSTox identifiers mapped to CAS (2021r1)US EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure
- EPA ToxCast/Tox21 — endocrine pathway screening (ER CERAPP, AR)US EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure
- EU CosIng — Cosmetic Ingredient Database full exportEuropean Commission, DG GROW
- final version of 16 September 2022SCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- preliminary version of 12 January 2022SCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- SCCS Opinion SCCS/1641/22 — Genistein and DaidzeinScientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)(2022)
- SCCS/1641/22SCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- Scientific opinion on genistein and daidzeinSCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- ToxCast ER model — Genistein (DTXSID5022308)US EPA — ToxCast / CompTox
- ToxValDB — genotoxicityUS EPA — ToxValDB v97