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Official EU label nameGlossary entry 25271

SARCOSINE

This record confirms an official common ingredient name for EU cosmetic product labelling. It does not by itself confirm that the substance is permitted, unrestricted or safe.

Global evidence snapshot

The resolved identity has matching regulatory evidence in 0 of 13 indexed market datasets: 0 country records and 0 EU Annex records. Every result and evidence gap is listed below.

0 markets with evidence
Markets checked
13
Markets with evidence
0
Evidence gaps
13
Resolved identifiers
2

Resolved substance identity

CAS:107-97-1
EC:203-538-6
Ingredient index records:
SARCOSINE
Cosmetic functions: SKIN CONDITIONING

Glycine, N-methyl-

Open full local profile
1 matched or reported name
SARCOSINE

Regulatory evidence across markets

None of the 13 markets tracked here holds an imported rule under the name SARCOSINE.

That is a statement about this inventory, not about the law: no imported rule is not evidence that a substance is permitted. A rule may exist under a different name, under a CAS or EC number this glossary entry does not carry, or in a dataset not yet imported.

Check the markets and their sourcesSearch every market for this name

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 107-97-1
CAS 107-97-1PubChem CID 1088

Sarcosine

Sarcosine is a N-alkylglycine that is the N-methyl derivative of glycine. It is an intermediate in the metabolic pathway of glycine. It has a role as a glycine transporter 1 inhibitor, a glycine receptor agonist, a mouse metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite and a human metabolite. It is a N-methyl-amino acid, a member of N-methylglycines and a N-alkylglycine. It is a conjugate base of a sarcosinium. It is a conjugate acid of a sarcosinate. It is a tautomer of a sarcosine zwitterion. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
2-(methylamino)acetic acid
Molecular formula
C3H7NO2
Molecular weight
89.09 g/mol
Exact mass
89.047678466 Da
XLogP3
-2.8
Topological polar surface area
49.3 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
3
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

N-methylglycineSarcosinic acidMethylglycineGlycine, N-methyl-N-Methylaminoacetic acidMethylaminoacetic acid(Methylamino)acetic acidSarcosin
16 more reported names
(Methylamino)ethanoic acidAcetic acid, (methylamino)-(methylamino)acetateCHEBI:15611Methylaminoethanoic acidZ711V88R5FN MethylglycineSarcosylate, MagnesiumMETHYL GLYCOCOLLRefChem:181358203-538-62-(methylazaniumyl)acetateSargosine hydrochlorideN-Methyl glycineN-MethylglycocollN-methyl-Glycine
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Evidence from additional scientific databases

EMBL-EBI ChEBI
Exact identifier matchCHEBI:15611

sarcosine

A N-alkylglycine that is the N-methyl derivative of glycine. It is an intermediate in the metabolic pathway of glycine.

Formula
C3H7NO2
Average mass
89.094 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass
89.04768 Da
Formal charge
0
  • N-methylglycines — is a (CHEBI:21766)
  • N-alkylglycine — is a (CHEBI:66933)
  • N-methyl-amino acid — is a (CHEBI:21760)
  • Escherichia coli metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76971)
  • antipsychotic agent — has role (CHEBI:35476)
  • antidepressant — has role (CHEBI:35469)
  • human metabolite — has role (CHEBI:77746)
  • glycine transporter 1 inhibitor — has role (CHEBI:64588)
  • glycine receptor agonist — has role (CHEBI:64589)
  • mouse metabolite — has role (CHEBI:75771)
  • Escherichia coli metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76971)
  • antipsychotic agent — has role (CHEBI:35476)
  • antidepressant — has role (CHEBI:35469)
  • human metabolite — has role (CHEBI:77746)
  • glycine transporter 1 inhibitor — has role (CHEBI:64588)
  • glycine receptor agonist — has role (CHEBI:64589)
  • mouse metabolite — has role (CHEBI:75771)
  • N-methylglycines — is a (CHEBI:21766)
  • N-alkylglycine — is a (CHEBI:66933)
  • N-methyl-amino acid — is a (CHEBI:21760)
  • sarcosinate — is conjugate acid of (CHEBI:46915)
  • sarcosinium — is conjugate base of (CHEBI:46842)
  • sarcosine zwitterion — is tautomer of (CHEBI:57433)
Additional curated names
sarcosineN-methylaminoacetic acidL-sarcosineMeGly(methylamino)acetic acidmethylaminoacetic acidMethylamino-acetic acid(methylamino)ethanoic acidN-MethylglycineSarSarcosineSARCOSINEsarcosinic acid
Cross-references from this source
  • CAS: 107-97-1 — KEGG COMPOUND
  • CAS: 107-97-1 — ChemIDplus
  • CAS: 107-97-1 — NIST Chemistry WebBook
  • REGISTRY_NUMBER: 1699442 — Reaxys
  • REGISTRY_NUMBER: 2018 — Gmelin
  • MANUAL_X_REF: C00213 — KEGG COMPOUND
  • MANUAL_X_REF: c0135 — UM-BBD
  • MANUAL_X_REF: HMDB0000271 — HMDB
  • MANUAL_X_REF: SAR — PDBeChem
  • MANUAL_X_REF: Sarcosine — Wikipedia
  • MANUAL_X_REF: SARCOSINE — MetaCyc

Mapped by: Exact CAS cross-reference in the ChEBI compound record. Source updated: 2016-01-27. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

NIH PubChem PUG-View
Exact identifier match1088

Attributed physical-property, hazard, environmental and use annotations.

  • First Aid: EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.; SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.; INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) shou Source: CAMEO Chemicals
  • Note: This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 98.7% (149 of 151) of all reports. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: Not Classified; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria by 149 of 151 companies (only 1.3% companies provided GHS information). For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • ECHA C&L Notifications Summary: Aggregated GHS information provided per 151 reports by companies from 3 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory.; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 149 of 151 reports by companies.; There is 1 notification provided by 2 of 151 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).; Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Health Effects: Acyl sarcosines may cause irritation to the skin and eyes. They may also react to produce N-nitrososarcosine, which is believed to be carcinogenic. (A2881) Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Health Effects: Acute Exposure: Can lead to eye and skin irritation. Chronic Exposure: High levels of sarcosine in prostate tissues are associated with aggressive prostate tumors. In this regard, sarcosine appears to function as an oncometabolite. High levels of sarcosine are also seen in patients with sarcosinemia. Sarcosinemia is a rare inborn error of metabolism that is characterized by an increased level of sarcosine (N-methylglycine) in the plasma and urine. The enzymatic block results from a deficiency of sarcosine dehydrogenase (SarDH), a liver mitochondrial matrix enzyme that converts sarcosine into glycine. The disease is mostly characterized by mental delay, cardiomyopathy, deafness and visual disturbance. Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Conclusion: The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following ingredients are safe as used in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating. The Expert Panel cautions that these ingredients should not be used in cosmetic products in which N-nitroso compounds can be found...Cocoyl Sarcosine... Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Finding(s): Safe for use in cosmetics, with qualifications Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Toxicity Summary: While acyl sarcosines themselves are not toxic, they are nitrosating agents. Nitrosating agents may decompose and/or react to cause nitrosamine contamination. Nitrosamines are produced from secondary amines and amides in the presence of nitrite ions and are believed to be carcinogenic. The particular nitrosamine produced by acyl sarcosines is N-nitrososarcosine. Once in the body, nitrosamines are activated by cytochrome P-450 enzymes. They are then believed to induce their carcinogenic effects by forming DNA adducts at the N- and O-atoms. (L1889, L1890, A2878, A2879, A2880, A2881) Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Toxicity Summary: Sarcosine is an oncometabolite. Sarcosine appears to upregulate the expression of the potent oncoprotein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells upon exposure to exogenous sarcosine. Thus, sarcosine may induce prostate cancer progression by increased HER2/neu expression. Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Link: CIR ingredient: Cocoyl Sarcosine Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Sources/Uses: Used as an intermediate in synthesis of toothpaste antienzyme agents; [Merck Index] An amino acid intermediate in the metabolism of choline. [ChemIDplus] Used to make antienzyme agents for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; [NTP] Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
  • Uses: Acyl sarcosines are used as hair-conditioning agents and surfactant-cleansing agents in cosmetics, as well as to improve wetting and penetration of topical pharmaceutical products. Acyl sarcosines and their sodium salts are also used in the metal finishing and processing industries for their crystal modifying, anti-rust, and anti-corrosion properties. (A2881) Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Uses: Sarcosine can be used as a cognitive enhancer and to treat schizophrenia. Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

Mapped by: Existing checksum-valid CAS to unique PubChem CID match. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

Scientific classifications and hazard annotations provide context and do not replace the market-specific regulatory decision shown above.

Additional source coverage and match status
SourceResultChecked
EMBL-EBI ChEBIExact match2026-08-31
NIH PubChem PUG-ViewExact match2026-08-31

A recorded no-match is useful evidence that the source was checked; it is not a claim that the substance does not exist elsewhere.

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Additional authoritative substance research

Each link searches that source for this identity. A link is a research route, not a claim that the source holds an exact record. What each source is, and its legal weight

Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessmentsFDA Global Substance Registration SystemILO/WHO International Chemical Safety CardsJapan NITE-CHRIPNIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsOECD eChemPortalUS EPA CompTox CTX APIs

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Official source and scope

Imported from Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175 (dataset version EU 2025/1175). The glossary supplies common ingredient names for the ingredient list required by Article 19(1)(g); it is not an approval or safety list.

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