Ethylparaben occurs as a white, odorless or almost odorless,
crystalline powder.
Ethylparaben is mainly used as antiseptics in cosmetics, food and medicine. It is also can be used as feed preservatives and antiseptic for bacteria.
Ethylparaben is a preservative that is used in the formulation of cosmetics and personal care products in order to extend the shelf-life by preventing microbial contamination. In most formulations, parabens are used at very low levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%.
Ethylparaben, a novel sorbent for solid-phase extraction, was used to study its retention property. It has high extraction efficiency towards the compounds tested owing to the electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding.
ChEBI: Ethylparaben is an ethyl ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanol, It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, an antifungal agent, a plant metabolite and a phytoestrogen. It is a paraben and an ethyl ester.
Ethylparaben is prepared by the esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic
acid with ethanol (95%).
Pharmaceutical Applications
Ethylparaben is widely used as an antimicrobial preservative in
cosmetics,food products, and pharmaceutical formulations.
It may be used either alone or in combination with other paraben
esters or with other antimicrobial agents. In cosmetics it is one of the
most frequently used preservatives.
The parabens are effective over a wide pH range and have a
broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, although they are most
effective against yeasts and molds.
Owing to the poor solubility of the parabens, paraben salts,
particularly the sodium salt, are frequently used. However, this may
cause the pH of poorly buffered formulations to become more
alkaline.
Ethylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial
preservatives in cosmetics, food products, and oral and topical
pharmaceutical formulations.
Systemically, no adverse reactions to parabens have been
reported, although they have been associated with hypersensitivity
reactions. Parabens, in vivo, have also been reported to exhibit
estrogenic responses in fish.(10) The WHO has set an estimated total
acceptable daily intake for methyl-, ethyl-, and propylparabens at
up to 10 mg/kg body-weight.
LD50 (mouse, IP): 0.52 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 3.0 g/kg
Aqueous ethylparaben solutions at pH 3–6 can be sterilized by
autoclaving, without decomposition. At pH 3–6, aqueous
solutions are stable (less than 10% decomposition) for up to about
4 years at room temperature, while solutions at pH 8 or above are
subject to rapid hydrolysis (10% or more after about 60 days at
room temperature).
Ethylparaben should be stored in a well-closed container in a
cool, dry place.
The antimicrobial properties of ethylparaben are considerably
reduced in the presence of nonionic surfactants as a result of
micellization. Absorption of ethylparaben by plastics has not been
reported, although it appears probable given the behavior of other
parabens. Ethylparaben is coabsorbed on silica in the presence of
ethoxylated phenols. Yellow iron oxide, ultramarine blue, and
aluminum silicate extensively absorb ethylparaben in simple
aqueous systems, thus reducing preservative efficacy.
Ethylparaben is discolored in the presence of iron and is subject
to hydrolysis by weak alkalis and strong acids.
Accepted as a food additive in Europe. Included in the FDA Inactive
Ingredients Database (oral, otic, and topical preparations). Included
in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the
Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.
