Methylparaben

Description

Methylparaben, designated as food additive E218 in Europe, is a preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi in many products, but it is frequently used in cosmetics. It and other parabens are produced by esterfying?para-hydrobenzoic acid (hence the name "paraben").

Chemical properties

Methylparaben occurs as colorless crystals or a white crystalline powder. It is odorless or almost odorless and has a slight burning taste. Soluble in alcohol,ether; slightly soluble in water, benzene, and carbontetrachloride.

Occurrence

Reported present in cloudberry, yellow passion fruit juice, white wine, botrytised wine and Bourbon vanilla.

The Uses of Methylparaben

Methyl paraben is a stable, non-volatile compound and finds application as an anti-microbial preservative in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate is used as an anti-fungal agent. It is also used as a preservative in foods, beverages and cosmetics. It acts as an inhibitor of growth of molds and to lesser extent bacteria and as a vehicle for ophthalmic solution.

Definition

ChEBI: Methylparaben is a 4-hydroxybenzoate ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with methanol. It is the most frequently used antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics. It occurs naturally in several fruits, particularly in blueberries. It has a role as a plant metabolite, an antimicrobial food preservative, a neuroprotective agent and an antifungal agent.

Preparation

Methylparaben is produced through the methanol esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid. The materials are heated in a glass-lined reactor and distilled under reflux. The resulting acid is neutralized with caustic soda, then crystallized through cooling. The crystallized product is centrifuged, washed, dried under vacuum, milled and blended, all in corrosion-resistant equipment to avoid metallic contamination.

Hazard

Toxic. Use in foods restricted to 0.1%.

Contact allergens

This substance is one of the parabens family. Parabens are esters formed by p-hydroxybenzoic acid and an alcohol. They are largely used as biocides in cosmetics and toiletries, medicaments, or food. They have synergistic power with other biocides. Parabens can induce allergic contact dermatitis, mainly in chronic dermatitis and wounded skin.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, also called methyl paraben or nipagin, comprises the ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. It is present naturally in cloudberry, white wine and bourbon vanilla. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate has antimicrobial and antifungal functionality and is commercially used as a preservative in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate has cytotoxic effects on keratinocytes in the presence of sunlight. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate upon solar irradiation mediates DNA damage and modulates esterase metabolism resulting in skin damage and favors cancer progression. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate has estrogenic functionality and upregulates estrogen-related genes.

Toxicity

Methylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. Although parabens have also been used as preservatives in injections and ophthalmic preparations, they are now generally regarded as being unsuitable for these types of formulations owing to the irritant potential of the parabens. These experiences may depend on immune responses to enzymatically formed metabolites of the parabens in the skin.
Parabens are nonmutagenic, nonteratogenic, and noncarcinogenic. Sensitization to the parabens is rare, and these compounds do not exhibit significant levels of photocontact sensitization or phototoxicity.
Hypersensitivity reactions to parabens, generally of the delayed type and appearing as contact dermatitis, have been reported. However, given the widespread use of parabens as preservatives, such reactions are relatively uncommon; the classification of overstated. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions following injection of preparations containing parabens have also been reported.
Delayed-contact dermatitis occurs more frequently when parabens are used topically, but has also been reported to occur after oral administration.
Unexpectedly, preparations containing parabens may be used by patients who have reacted previously with contact dermatitis provided they are applied to another, unaffected, site. This has been termed the paraben paradox.
Concern has been expressed over the use of methylparaben in infant parenteral products because bilirubin binding may be affected, which is potentially hazardous in hyperbilirubinemic neonates.
The WHO has set an estimated total acceptable daily intake for methyl-, ethyl-, and propylparabens at up to 10 mg/kg bodyweight.
LD₅₀ (dog, oral): 3.0 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, IP): 0.96 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, SC): 1.20 g/kg

Carcinogenicity

The carcinogenic potential of methyl paraben has been studied in rodents. Several studies are available, but none that expose animals via oral or dermal routes. No evidence of a carcinogenic effect was observed following intravenous or subcutaneous injection .

Storage

Aqueous solutions of methylparaben at pH 3–6 may be sterilized by autoclaving at 120°C for 20 minutes, without decomposition. Aqueous solutions at pH 3–6 are stable (less than 10% decomposition) for up to about 4 years at room temperature, while aqueous solutions at pH 8 or above are subject to rapid hydrolysis (10% or more after about 60 days storage at room temperature);
Methylparaben should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.

Incompatibilities

The antimicrobial activity of methylparaben and other parabens is considerably reduced in the presence of nonionic surfactants, such as polysorbate 80, as a result of micellization.However, propylene glycol (10%) has been shown to potentiate the antimicrobial activity of the parabens in the presence of nonionic surfactants and prevents the interaction between methylparaben and polysorbate 80.
Incompatibilities with other substances, such as bentonite, magnesium trisilicate,talc,tragacanth,sodium alginate, essential oils,sorbitol,and atropine,have been reported. It also reacts with various sugars and related sugar alcohols. Absorption of methylparaben by plastics has also been reported; the amount absorbed is dependent upon the type of plastic and the vehicle. It has been claimed that low-density and high-density polyethylene bottles do not absorb methylparaben.
Methylparaben is discolored in the presence of iron and is subject to hydrolysis by weak alkalis and strong acids.

Regulatory Status

Methylparaben and propylparaben are affirmed GRAS Direct Food Substances in the USA at levels up to 0.1%. All esters except the benzyl ester are allowed for injection in Japan. In cosmetics, the EU and Brazil allow use of each paraben at 0.4%, but the total of all parabens may not exceed 0.8%. The upper limit in Japan is 1.0%.
Accepted for use as a food additive in Europe. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (IM, IV, and SC injections; inhalation preparations; ophthalmic preparations; oral capsules, tablets, solutions and suspensions; otic, rectal, topical, and vaginal preparations). Included in medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.

References

The Protective Effect of Rosmarinic Acid against Unfavorable Influence of Methylparaben and Propylparaben on Collagen in Human Skin Fibroblasts DOI:10.3390/nu12051282
https://www.byrdie.com/methylparaben-for-skin-4779820
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methylparaben
Handa O, et al. (2006). Methylparaben potentiates UV-induced damage of skin keratinocytes. DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2006.07.018
Parabens in Cosmetics https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/ingredients/ucm128042.htm
Okamoto T, et al. (2008). Combined activation of methyl paraben by light irradiation and metabolism toward oxidative DNA damage. DOI:10.1021/tx800066u