Is SHIKALKIN safe to use in EU cosmetics?

SHIKALKIN is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

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InventoryRef cosing-live-996342023-05-23

SHIKALKIN

Shikalkin is the racemic mixture of shikonin and alkannin that conforms generally to the formula:

SHIKALKIN is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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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.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 517-88-4

CAS 517-88-4PubChem CID 72521

Alkannin

Alkannin is a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: 5,8-dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-enyl]naphthalene-1,4-dione

Molecular formula: C16H16O5
Molecular weight: 288.29 g/mol
Exact mass: 288.09977361 Da
XLogP3: 3.0
Topological polar surface area: 94.8 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 3
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 5
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 1

Also known as

AnchusinAlkanna RedAnchusa acid075CRZ9995NSC-945245,8-dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-pent-3-enyl]naphthalene-1,4-dione5,8-dihydroxy-2-((1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-pent-3-enyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione5,8-dihydroxy-2-((1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-enyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione

16 more reported names

RefChem:554083208-245-7(-)-AlkanninAlkannin (VAN)Anchusin (VAN)Alkanna red (VAN)Anchusa acid (VAN)(S)-5,8-Dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)naphthalene-1,4-dioneCHEBI:2578(S)-5,8-Dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-enyl)-1,4-naphthoquinoneE1035,8-dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl]-1,4-dihydronaphthalene-1,4-dioneC.I. Natural Red 20 (VAN)Cerven prirodni 20Cerven prirodni 20 [Czech]UNII-075CRZ9995

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External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:2578
ChEMBL:CHEMBL28457
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID201029621
PubMed:40389196
PubMed:30924981
PubMed:11408205

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-09-02 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 517-89-5

CAS 517-89-5PubChem CID 479503

Shikonin

Shikonin is a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: 5,8-dihydroxy-2-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-enyl]naphthalene-1,4-dione

Molecular formula: C16H16O5
Molecular weight: 288.29 g/mol
Exact mass: 288.09977361 Da
XLogP3: 3.0
Topological polar surface area: 94.8 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 3
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 5
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 1

Also known as

Isoarnebin 4ShikonineTokyo Violet(R)-(+)-Shikonin(+)-ShikoninNSC 252844CCRIS 64923IK6592UBW

16 more reported names

(+)-5,8-Dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinoneC.I. 755351,4-Naphthalenedione, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (R)-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE, 5,8-DIHYDROXY-2-(1-HYDROXY-4-METHYL-3-PENTENYL)-, (+)-NSC-2528441,4-naphthalenedione, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-((1r)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-1,4-Naphthalenedione, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl]-5,8-dihydroxy-2-((1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-penten-1-yl)-1,4-naphthalenedione5,8-DIHYDROXY-2-((1R)-1-HYDROXY-4-METHYLPENT-3-ENYL)NAPHTHALENE-1,4-DIONE5,8-Dihydroxy-2-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-penten-1-yl]-1,4-naphthalenedioneshikonin, (+)-RefChem:487985,8-dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-1,4-naphthalenedione610-730-71,4-naphthalenedione, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-((1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-penten-1-yl)-2-((1R)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

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External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:81068
ChEMBL:CHEMBL9470
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID30199653
PubMed:12937000

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

Official European Commission record

CosIng substance ID: 99634
Entry status: Active
Published in the Official Journal: Yes
Recorded by the Commission: 2023-05-23

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Fields as published by the European Commission. The link opens the entry itself, not a search for it.

Inventory details for SHIKALKIN

INCI name

SHIKALKIN

Description

Shikalkin is the racemic mixture of shikonin and alkannin that conforms generally to the formula:

Record provenance

Inventory reference: cosing-live-99634
Imported identity: SHIKALKIN
Source update: 2023-05-23

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for SHIKALKIN

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Key data

CAS

117746-18-6/517-88-4/517-89-5

-/-/610-730-7

Restriction

—

Function

COLORANT: Exclusively or mainly intended to colour the cosmetic product, the body as a whole or certain parts thereof, by absorption or reflection of visible light. All authorised colorants are substances in the positive list of Annex IV to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS: Enhancing the appearance of dry and/or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#25753 · SHIKALKIN

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

RHIZOPHORA MANGLE BARK EXTRACTCOLORANT

RIBOFLAVINCOLORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS

ROSA CANINA CALLUS LYSATEANTIOXIDANT, COLORANT

ROSEOMONAS MUCOSA EXTRACT FILTRATECOLORANT

SILVERCOLORANT, DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS

SODIUM 5-NITROGUAIACOLATECOLORANT

SODIUM HYALURONATE FERULATECOLORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN PROTECTING

SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM POMACE POWDERANTIOXIDANT; COLORANT; EXFOLIATING

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

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How SHIKALKIN appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists SHIKALKIN 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.

SHIKALKIN is also tagged with 2 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

SHIKALKIN is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, SHIKALKIN carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 117746-18-6/517-88-4/517-89-5 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or compare this substance across all supported market datasets.

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Source note for SHIKALKIN

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for SHIKALKIN 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 SHIKALKIN 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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