Database/Antioxidant/Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid natural?

It depends. Identical molecule either way; natural-origin credit depends on whether it was extracted from creosote bush or built by total synthesis.

INCI nameNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
CAS500-38-9
FormulaC18H22O4 · 302.4 Da
FunctionAntioxidant
FeedstockTraditionally extracted from the leaves and twigs of…

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 extractionLarrea tridentata (creosote bush) leaf/twig1.00uncertain, historically dominant
total synthesispetrochemical catechol/guaiacol derivatives0.00uncertain
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: plant-extracted NDGA from Larrea tridentata retains the natural carbon skeleton (n=1 throughout); synthetic NDGA is built from petrochemical catechol/guaiacol intermediates (n=0 throughout). Not averaged; route share 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

Traditionally extracted from the leaves and twigs of the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata); can also be made by total synthesis from petrochemical catechol derivatives. Market share between the two routes for cosmetic use is unclear.

In plain English

An antioxidant traditionally extracted from the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), though it can also be made by chemical synthesis. Which route supplied a given batch affects how natural it is.

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Structure

2D structure of Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid

4-[4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dimethylbutyl]benzene-1,2-diol

PubChem CID 4534 ↗

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. 2Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid. PubChem CID 4534. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC%20ACID