The ingredient, explained
Madecassoside
A specific compound from Centella asiatica studied in combination with ascorbic acid.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
O-6-Deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl--1→4--O-β-D-glucopyranosyl--1→6--β-D-glucopyranosyl -2α,3β,4α,6β--2‚3,6‚23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate
About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗
- Antioxidant
- Limits oxidation, including deterioration of formulation ingredients. This label alone does not show a clinical antioxidant effect in skin.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Research category concerning reduced inflammation. A discovery tag does not establish that an ingredient treats inflammation at the amount used in a product.
- Skin conditioning
- A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗ · National Cancer Institute: Anti-inflammatory definition ↗
Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.
A closer look
What the research shows
Human research on a combination
A six-month double-blind trial in 20 women with photoaged skin tested a topical formula with 0.1% madecassoside and 5% vitamin C. Investigators reported improvements in wrinkle scores, hydration and elasticity.
What this does not tell us
This small trial tested both ingredients together, so it cannot identify madecassoside's contribution. The abstract does not describe the comparator in detail. Madecassoside is not interchangeable with a whole Centella extract or asiaticoside.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 18503551 ↗
Research review checked Sep 30, 2026
Selected primary sources were reviewed for the existing research brief on 30 September 2026, with exact ingredient, route and combination limitations recorded. This was a bounded editorial review, not a systematic search.
Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.
Read the 1 selected study
Human research on a combination · n=20
Clinical, biometric and structural evaluation of the long-term effects of a topical treatment with ascorbic acid and madecassoside in photoaged human skin. ↗
Experimental dermatology · 2008
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the Serenfold edit. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
O-6-Deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl--1→4--O-β-D-glucopyranosyl--1→6--β-D-glucopyranosyl -2α,3β,4α,6β--2‚3,6‚23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- MADECASSOSIDE
- CAS registry number
- 34540-22-2
- EC number
- 252-076-1
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026