Database/Antioxidant/Apigenin
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Apigenin natural?

It depends. Apigenin is available either as a plant isolate (natural) or via petrochemical flavone synthesis (non-natural); cosmetic-grade market share is unclear.

INCI nameApigenin
CAS520-36-5
FormulaC15H10O5 · 270.24 Da
FunctionAntioxidant · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockTypically isolated from chamomile or parsley plant material…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Plant extractionChamomile or parsley flower/leaf1.00assumed majority, uncertain
Chemical synthesisPetrochemical phenolics (Claisen-Schmidt/cyclisation)0.00minority
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Route-dependent: extraction from chamomile/parsley gives 1.0 (all atoms plant-sourced); petrochemical flavone synthesis from phenolics gives 0.0. Dominant cosmetic-supply route uncertain.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Typically isolated from chamomile or parsley plant material for cosmetic use; can also be chemically synthesised from petrochemical phenolic precursors. Market share between routes is uncertain.

In plain English

A yellow plant compound (flavonoid) found in chamomile and parsley, used as an antioxidant and for hair conditioning. Usually isolated from plants, though it can also be made synthetically.

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Structure

2D structure of Apigenin

5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one

PubChem CID 5280443 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Apigenin. PubChem CID 5280443. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3APIGENIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4APIGENIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=APIGENIN