OLEOCANTHAL
4-Hexenoic acid, 4-formyl-3-(2-oxoethyl)-, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl ester, (3S,4E)-
OLEOCANTHAL is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.
Regulatory evidence by market
No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.
That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.
Chemical identity and properties
Oleocanthal
Oleocanthal is a carboxylic ester that is the 2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl ester of (3S)-4-formyl-3-(2-oxoethyl)hex-4-enoic acid. Oleocanthal is found in olive oil but it is not clear whether the natural product is a mixture of E/Z isomers or a single isomer as the two isomers readily interconvert in solution; most pharmacological studies will have been performed using a mixture. It has a role as an antioxidant, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antineoplastic agent, a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, a cyclooxygenase 1 inhibitor, a nutraceutical, a neuroprotective agent, a Hsp90 inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, an apoptosis inducer and a plant metabolite. It is a carboxylic ester, a member of phenols, a dialdehyde and an enal. It is functionally related to a 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol. — ChEBI
- IUPAC name
- 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl (E,3S)-4-formyl-3-(2-oxoethyl)hex-4-enoate
- Molecular formula
- C17H20O5
- Molecular weight
- 304.34 g/mol
- Exact mass
- 304.13107373 Da
- XLogP3
- 1.5
- Topological polar surface area
- 80.7 Ų
- Hydrogen-bond donors
- 1
- Hydrogen-bond acceptors
- 5
- Covalent units
- 1
- Defined stereocentres
- 1
Also known as
16 more reported names
External database identifiers
- ChEBI:CHEBI:85673
- ChEMBL:CHEMBL2172394
- EPA DTXSID:DTXSID40183104
- PubMed:21248124
- PubMed:19631677
Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.
Inventory details for OLEOCANTHAL
INCI name
OLEOCANTHAL
Description
4-Hexenoic acid, 4-formyl-3-(2-oxoethyl)-, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl ester, (3S,4E)-
Record provenance
- Inventory reference
- 96576
- Imported identity
- OLEOCANTHAL
- Source update
- 13/05/2019
Annex records for OLEOCANTHAL
Key data
- ANTIMICROBIAL
- Preventing and/or slowing down microbial growth.
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Inhibiting reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
- ORAL CARE
- Providing cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
- SKIN PROTECTING
- Helping to avoid harmful effects to the skin from external factors.
Official EU ingredient-name evidence
The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.
Related inventory evidence
Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions
Additional official and scientific sources
11 external databases to check this identity in
Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight
How OLEOCANTHAL appears in the CosIng inventory
The CosIng inventory lists OLEOCANTHAL as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.
OLEOCANTHAL is also tagged with 4 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.
Frequently asked questions
Source note for OLEOCANTHAL
This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for OLEOCANTHAL from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.
Use this inventory page to research OLEOCANTHAL and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.
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