BENZOIC ACID

BENZOIC ACID

CAS 65-85-0 · preservative · EC 200-618-2 · KR 벤조익애씨드

Generally Low Concern5 citations

Benzoic acid

BENZOIC ACID is a preservative ingredient used in skincare formulations.

preservative

⚠️ Data is provided for informational purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies and should be independently verified. This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Quick facts

Description: BENZOIC ACID — preservative.

All Functions: preservative

Quick Facts:

Category: preservative

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

Benzoic acid is a preservative and fragrance ingredient naturally found in plants and some animal tissues
It’s used in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals to prevent bacterial and fungal growth
Safety assessments conclude it’s safe at concentrations currently used in cosmetic products
Your body breaks it down relatively quickly and excretes it as a compound called hippuric acid
Can cause skin irritation or contact reactions in some people at higher concentrations

Chemical Overview

Benzoate is the simplest member of the class of benzoates that is the conjugate base of benzoic acid, comprising a benzoic acid core with a proton missing to give a charge of -1. It has a role as a plant metabolite and a human xenobiotic metabolite. It is a conjugate base of a benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, is a colourless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid occurs naturally free and bound as benzoic acid esters in many plant and animal species. Appreciable amounts have been found in most berries (around 0.05%). Cranberries contain as much as 300-1300 mg free benzoic acid per kg fruit. Benzoic acid is a fungistatic compound that is widely used as a food preservative. It often is conjugated to glycine in the liver and excreted as hippuric acid. Benzoic acid is a byproduct of phenylalanine metabolism in bacteria. It is also produced when gut bacteria process polyphenols (from ingested fruits or beverages). See also: Sodium Benzoate (annotation moved to).

Source(s): Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB), PubChem, ChEBI, via PubChem