Ingredient intelligence
Ectoin
Skin barrier · Ectoin · C6H10N2O2
Ectoin is a bacterial compatible solute studied as a protein- and membrane-stabilising osmolyte in skin models.
Any underlined term can be tapped for an everyday-English translation.
Molecular identity
- Formula
- C6H10N2O2
- Molecular weight
- 142.16 g/mol
- PubChem CID
- 126041
- ChEBI
- Data unavailable
Biological targets
Membrane and protein hydration shell
medium confidenceassociated with · complex
Physicochemical stabilisation rather than a protein target.
How could this ingredient interact with biology?
Biological network
Ingredient → molecule → target → gene/protein → pathway → process → studied outcome. Relationship strength is drawn from the curated confidence tier; nothing is added to make the chain look complete.
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5 lower-confidence relationships are hidden at this filter level. Use “Show more biology” to include them.
Text alternative for this network
- Ectoin is molecule Ectoin — high confidence
- Ectoin associated with Membrane and protein hydration shell — medium confidence
Biological pathways
Cellular response to heat stress
low confidenceStress-protein responses reported in exposed .
Reactome R-HSA-3371556
Evidence engine
Insufficient
Not enough curated evidence to characterise this ingredient.
Skinceptor Evidence Index
18
experimental · of 100
This index is a research-navigation aid describing how much evidence exists and how it was produced. It is not a medical safety score, an efficacy guarantee, or a clinical recommendation.
Study composition
- In-vitro1
- Review1
- Total studies
- 2
- Human studies
- 0
- Largest sample
- Data unavailable
- Range
- 2007–2010
Index breakdown
- Study design quality35% × 28%
Mean design weight across curated studies (meta-analysis 1.0, RCT 0.9, other human 0.7, review 0.45, animal 0.35, in-vitro 0.25).
- Human evidence share0% × 22%
Proportion of curated evidence measured in people rather than cells or animals.
- Evidence volume50% × 14%
Log-scaled count of curated studies, so volume alone cannot dominate the score.
- Largest sample size0% × 12%
Log-scaled largest reported sample size across curated human studies.
- Replication0% × 12%
Independent human studies, capped at three; one study is never treated as replicated.
- Recency20% × 7%
Linear decay over a twenty-year window from the most recent curated publication.
- Source traceability0% × 5%
Share of curated studies with a verified PMID or DOI in this dataset.
Insufficient comparable evidence for quantitative synthesis.
Research timeline
How the evidence accumulated
2007
Ectoin as a protective compatible solute in keratinocyte models
In-vitrosample size unavailable · Skin Pharmacology and Physiology
2010
Ectoine as a compatible solute: membrane and protein stabilisation
Reviewsample size unavailable · Biophysical Chemistry (review)
Ingredient fingerprint
8 nodes · 8 relationships · seed "ectoin"
The fingerprint is a deterministic visual signature: ridge amplitude comes from the number of entities in each tier, node placement from identifier hashes, and opacity from confidence. Two ingredients can never produce the same figure unless their networks are identical.
Open in Biology as Art →Research
2 curated studies
Ectoine as a compatible solute: membrane and protein stabilisation
Summarises preferential-hydration mechanisms by which ectoine stabilises membranes and proteins under stress.
Limitations — Biophysical review, not cutaneous; identifier not verified during curation.
Ectoin as a protective compatible solute in keratinocyte models
Reported reduced UVA-induced signalling and membrane damage in ectoin-treated keratinocytes.
Limitations — Cell model; identifier not verified during curation.
Community evidence
Submitted by readers
Reader submissions appear here only after review. They are not part of the curated dataset and do not affect the Skinceptor Evidence Index.
No approved community submissions yet.
Sources
- PubChem 126041Verified 2026-09-14
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