Common Name(s): Homarine hcl,homarine hcl,marine zwitterionic osmolyte,stress-protection compatible solute

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides cellular osmotic stress protection through preferential exclusion from protein surfaces (the same mechanism as trimethylamine oxide — tmao), antioxidant radical scavenging from the n-methylpyridinium ring, and skin conditioning from the zwitterionic compatible solute character.

Why It's Used: Marine compatible solutes provide the most evolutionarily optimised stress-protection chemistry — organisms surviving extreme osmotic environments have refined compatible solute metabolism over millions of years providing cosmetically applicable cellular protection mechanisms.

How It Works: Homarine's zwitterionic structure (positive n-methyl + negative carboxylate) is excluded from the protein hydration shell by preferential water interactions → protein surface hydration maintained during osmotic stress → protein tertiary structure preservation. the pyridinium ring provides pi-stacking radical stabilisation for antioxidant activity.

Typically Found In: Anti-aging,anti-stress,marine beauty

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant

Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–2%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Compatible solute mechanism parallel to ectoine: homarine provides the same preferential exclusion mechanism as ectoine (the commercially dominant compatible solute from halomonas bacteria) — the different ring chemistry providing similar osmotic protection with the marine invertebrate heritage narrative.

Last Verified: 2026-03-22

Primary Sources: Cosing database,homarine hcl marine osmolyte compatible solute review