Madecassoside

Madecassoside

Low hazardMolecular weight 975.1

What does Madecassoside do for skin?

A triterpenoid glycoside. Preclinical inflammation and collagen pathways and combination-product photoageing studies.

Dose on file: combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A

Is Madecassoside safe in skincare?

Low hazardHazard 2/10

No safety verdict and no hazard verdict in EU CosIng Annexes II/III/V/VI, MFDS, CIR or the four cancer agencies.

Based on

  • Reference: European Commission

    On no regulator list · No safety verdict and no hazard verdict in EU CosIng Annexes II/III/V/VI, MFDS, CIR, four cancer agencies.

Is Madecassoside classified as a carcinogen?

Only four bodies count here: IARC, EU CLP, US NTP and California Prop 65.

Not classified by IARC, EU CLP, US NTP, or California Prop 65.

How is Madecassoside regulated?

Cosmetic ingredient

Not found on any prescription-drug, professional-treatment, or US OTC monograph list, so it is treated as a cosmetic ingredient. This is a passive default ("not on any known restricted list"), not an individually verified positive finding.

Is Madecassoside safe during pregnancy?

  • Pregnant

    Not enough data

  • Nursing

    Not enough data

  • Planning

    Not enough data

Madecassoside is one of the main compounds of centella (gotu kola). The EU herbal committee does not recommend centella on the skin during pregnancy or breastfeeding for lack of data (EMA 2022); there are no pregnancy data on madecassoside itself, so it is treated like centella. A trial of a stretch-mark cream in pregnant women (2013) measured stretch marks, not safety. That is a statement about missing data, not a sign of harm, so we mark it unknown. We still recommend products with it.

  • Reference: EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)

    cutaneous: not recommended in pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data) · 4.6: 'Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established. In the absence of sufficient data, the use during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended.' Herb 1.8 g/day, <= 1 week.

  • Reference: EMA HMPC (rapporteur A. Assisi)

    reputed abortifacient (traditional literature, second-hand) · Assessment report 5.5.5; no developmental toxicity data.

  • Reference: Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, et al. (CIR Expert Panel)

    safe as used when non-sensitizing; max use about 0.5%; no DART data

  • Reference: ANSM (France)

    not declared in the French titrated extract; no pregnancy statement · The ANSM centella cream declares asiaticoside and the triterpene acids, not madecassoside.

  • Reference: Garcia Hernandez JA et al.

    efficacy trial in pregnant women (stretch marks) · Cream listed 'Centella asiatica triterpenes'; the endpoint was stretch marks, not safety.

Madecassoside benefits for skin, by concern

These raw scores are only shown here, in the ingredient dictionary.

  • Photoaging and UV Damage5.0

    Dose on file: combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A

    • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
  • Wrinkles and Elasticity4.5

    Dose on file: combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A

    • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
  • Soothing and Redness Relief4.0

    Dose on file: soothing stand-alone clinical N/A; photoageing combination study 0.1%

    There is preclinical work on inflammation pathways, but a standard soothing concentration for this molecule was not found in this review.

    • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
  • PIH and Scars3.0

    Dose on file: combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A

    • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
  • Rosacea and Chronic Sensitivity3.0

    Dose on file: combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A

    Indirect evidence for a barrier-support purpose. The clinical effective % of this single molecule for treating chronic inflammation in rosacea is N/A.

    • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008

Products that list this ingredient

578 products in our catalog list this ingredient. Here are the 12 with the most reviews.

Sources (7)

  • Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
  • Reference: European Commission
  • Reference: EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)
  • Reference: EMA HMPC (rapporteur A. Assisi)
  • Reference: Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, et al. (CIR Expert Panel)
  • Reference: ANSM (France)
  • Reference: Garcia Hernandez JA et al.

Red does not mean poison. Preservatives that stop a product going off, UV filters and fragrance can land on yellow or red depending on their score.

Green does not mean right for you. Skin and allergies differ from person to person. Treat the color as a starting point.