Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Also known as: Butylphenyl methylpropional, Lilial, p-BMHCA, para-butyl-methylhydroxycinnamaldehyde, 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal
Overview
Butylphenyl methylpropional, scientifically known as 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal, is a synthetic aromatic aldehyde primarily utilized as a fragrance ingredient in a wide array of consumer products, including cosmetics, perfumes, and personal care items. It is highly valued for its distinct floral scent. Despite its widespread use, this compound has been the subject of extensive toxicological evaluation due to significant concerns regarding its potential for reproductive toxicity and skin sensitization. Research has focused on its safety profile, including genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity studies, rather than any health benefits, as it is not intended for ingestion or therapeutic use. Regulatory bodies globally have assessed its risk profile, leading to restrictions on its concentration in cosmetic products to mitigate potential adverse effects.
Benefits
There are no documented health benefits or therapeutic effects of butylphenyl methylpropional as a supplement ingredient. Its sole primary use is as a fragrance in cosmetic and personal care products, not for health supplementation or any medicinal purpose. Research on this compound has exclusively focused on its safety and potential adverse effects, with no studies indicating any positive health outcomes for humans or animals when ingested or applied for therapeutic reasons.
How it works
Butylphenyl methylpropional is not applicable as a supplement, and therefore, its mechanism of action is not related to beneficial biological pathways. Toxicological studies indicate that when absorbed, primarily dermally or via inhalation in cosmetic use, it is metabolized, predominantly in the liver. The focus of research has been on understanding its metabolic fate and how it might interact with biological systems to induce toxicity, particularly reproductive toxicity, rather than any beneficial effects. Its interaction with the body is considered from a risk assessment perspective, aiming to identify pathways leading to adverse outcomes.
Side effects
Butylphenyl methylpropional is classified by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as Repr. 1B, H360Fd, indicating it "may damage fertility and is suspected of damaging the unborn child." This classification is based on animal studies that demonstrated testicular toxicity, decreased fetal weights, and post-implantation loss in rats at certain exposure levels. Maternal toxicity, including decreased weight gain, altered liver enzymes, and increased liver weight, was also observed in animal studies. While genotoxicity and mutagenicity assays (both in vitro and in vivo) have shown no evidence of genotoxicity or mutagenicity, there is a known potential for skin sensitization in susceptible individuals, although exposure limits are set to minimize this risk. Inhalation toxicity studies in rats revealed systemic toxicity signs without mortality. Due to these concerns, regulatory bodies have imposed strict concentration restrictions on its use in cosmetic products. Common side effects in humans are not extensively documented but may include allergic reactions or sensitization in sensitive individuals. It is contraindicated in pregnancy due to the significant reproductive toxicity risk identified in animal studies.
Dosage
There are no established dosing guidelines for butylphenyl methylpropional for supplementation, as it is not intended for ingestion or therapeutic use. Its application is strictly limited to its role as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products. For these applications, exposure limits are rigorously regulated by various health authorities worldwide to minimize systemic absorption and potential toxicity risks. These regulations specify maximum allowable concentrations in different product types to ensure consumer safety, particularly concerning its reproductive toxicity potential. Consumers should not attempt to ingest or use this compound for any health-related purpose.
FAQs
Is butylphenyl methylpropional safe in cosmetics?
It is restricted in cosmetics due to reproductive toxicity concerns but is considered safe below certain regulated concentration thresholds set by authorities to minimize risk.
Can it be used as a supplement?
No, butylphenyl methylpropional is not a dietary supplement ingredient and has no known health benefits. It is solely used as a fragrance.
Does it cause cancer?
Current scientific evidence, including genotoxicity and mutagenicity studies, does not support that butylphenyl methylpropional causes cancer.
Is it allergenic?
Yes, it has some potential for skin sensitization in susceptible individuals. Regulatory bodies set exposure limits to manage this risk in cosmetic products.
Research Sources
- https://www.phfscience.nz/media/2i1ijiwp/esr-health-risk-assessment-butylphenyl-methylpropional-cosmetics.pdf – This toxicological review, incorporating animal studies, identified reproductive toxicity of butylphenyl methylpropional, including testicular toxicity and decreased fetal weights in rats at mid/high doses. It led to the ECHA classification of Repr. 1B, highlighting significant reproductive hazards. The study provides high-quality regulatory toxicology data.
- https://fragrancematerialsafetyresource.elsevier.com/sites/default/files/62518-65-4.pdf – This comprehensive safety assessment, including in vitro and read-across analog data, concluded no genotoxicity for butylphenyl methylpropional. It also determined that the margin of exposure was sufficient for repeated dose and reproductive toxicity endpoints, providing a peer-reviewed perspective on its safety profile.
- https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-08/sccs_o_213_0.pdf – This regulatory safety opinion from the SCCS, based on submitted data including rat inhalation toxicity studies, noted systemic toxicity signs without mortality. It recommended concentration restrictions for butylphenyl methylpropional in cosmetic products, serving as an authoritative regulatory source for its safe use.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10613275/ – This study, an in vitro mutagenicity assay using CHO-K1 cells, found no mutagenic effect of butylphenyl methylpropional at the tested concentrations. It provides well-conducted evidence supporting the lack of mutagenicity for this compound, although it is limited to in vitro findings.
