Arecoline
Arecoline is listed in Annex II as a prohibited substance for cosmetic products placed on the EU market.
Chemical identity and properties

Arecoline
Arecoline is a tetrahydropyridine that is 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine with a methyl group at position 1, and a methoxycarbonyl group at position 3. An alkaloid found in the areca nut, it acts as an agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine. It has a role as a metabolite and a muscarinic agonist. It is a methyl ester, a pyridine alkaloid, a tetrahydropyridine and an enoate ester. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- methyl 1-methyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-5-carboxylate
- Molecular formula
- C8H13NO2
- Molecular weight
- 155.19 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 155.094628657 Da
- XLogP3
- 0.3
- Topological polar surface area
- 29.5 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 0
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 3
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 0
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:2814
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL7303
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID3022617
- PubMed:40889692
- PubMed:38450909
- PubMed:34999050
- PubMed:33929070
- PubMed:32717485
- PubMed:32441858
- PubMed:30910432
- PubMed:30884126
- PubMed:26908192
- PubMed:26537528
- PubMed:26464283
- PubMed:25056785
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
Arecoline
Chemical / IUPAC name
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-, methyl ester; Nicotinic acid, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-, methyl ester
Regulatory information
Key data
Related records for Arecoline
Direct matches are limited for this record, so nearby entries from Annex II are shown as well.
3,4-Dihydro-2-methoxy-2-methyl-4-phenyl-2H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]-[1]benzopyran-5-one (cyclocoumarol)
1- and 2-Naphthylamines and their salts
Phenmetrazine (INN), its derivatives and salts
Naphazoline (INN) and its salts
What Annex II means for Arecoline
Arecoline 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 Arecoline
This page summarizes one Annex II record for Arecoline 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 Arecoline, but confirm any final regulatory decision against the current official annex wording and source files.
Tools & next steps
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