Emetine, its salts and derivatives
Emetine, its salts and derivatives is listed in Annex II as a prohibited substance for cosmetic products placed on the EU market.
Chemical identity and properties

Emetine
Emetine is a pyridoisoquinoline comprising emetam having methoxy substituents at the 6'-, 7'-, 10- and 11-positions. It is an antiprotozoal agent and emetic. It inhibits SARS-CoV2, Zika and Ebola virus replication and displays antimalarial, antineoplastic and antiamoebic properties. It has a role as an emetic, an anticoronaviral agent, an antiamoebic agent, an antiviral agent, an antiinfective agent, an antineoplastic agent, an antiprotozoal drug, an antimalarial, a protein synthesis inhibitor, a plant metabolite, an expectorant and an autophagy inhibitor. It is an isoquinoline alkaloid and a pyridoisoquinoline. It is functionally related to a cephaeline. It is a conjugate base of an emetine(2+). It derives from a hydride of an emetan. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- (2S,3R,11bS)-2-[[(1R)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl]methyl]-3-ethyl-9,10-dimethoxy-2,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-1H-benzo[a]quinolizine
- Molecular formula
- C29H40N2O4
- Molecular weight
- 480.6 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 480.29880776 Da
- XLogP3
- 4.7
- Topological polar surface area
- 52.2 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 1
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 6
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 4
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:4781
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL50588
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID5022980
- PubMed:32545799
- PubMed:30028873
- PubMed:27336364
- PubMed:24077524
- PubMed:23195733
- PubMed:23168082
- PubMed:23074898
- PubMed:22895718
- PubMed:22867001
- PubMed:22860455
- PubMed:22701146
- PubMed:22661859
Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.
Record details
Chemical name
Emetine, its salts and derivatives
Regulatory information
Key data
Related records for Emetine, its salts and derivatives
Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex II are shown as well.
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What Annex II means for Emetine, its salts and derivatives
Emetine, its salts and derivatives is listed as a prohibited substance under Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 and must not be intentionally added. Article 17 separately addresses unintended small quantities that are technically unavoidable under good manufacturing practice and compatible with the Article 3 safety requirement.
Formulators must screen their ingredients and raw materials to ensure none contain this substance. Suppliers should provide documentation confirming absence when requested.
The page also surfaces 12 related annex records with overlapping identifiers, annex logic or naming patterns.
Compliance checklist
- Verify this substance is absent from all raw materials and finished formulations.
- Request absence confirmation or CoA from raw material suppliers.
- Document the screening result in the Product Information File (PIF).
Frequently asked questions
Source note for Annex II record Emetine, its salts and derivatives
This page summarizes one Annex II record for Emetine, its salts and derivatives from public European Commission cosmetic materials and adds linked inventory or identifier matches when available.
Use this record page to review Annex II conditions for Emetine, its salts and derivatives, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.
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