Cellulose Gum

The Basics On Cellulose Gum

What is Cellulose Gum?

Any of various fibrous substances derived from plants.

What are other names for Cellulose Gum?

ACETIC ACID, HYDROXY-, CELLULOSE ETHER, CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE, CARBOXYMETHYL ETHER CELLULOSE, CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE, CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SODIUM SALT, CELLULOSE ETHER ACETIC ACID, HYDROXY-, CELLULOSE GUM, CELLULOSE, CARBOXYMETHYL ETHER, CELLULOSE, CARBOXYMETHYL ETHER, SODIUM SALT, CELLULOSE, ETHER WITH GLYCOLIC ACID, SODIUM SALT, ETHER WITH GLYCOLIC ACID SODIUM SALT CELLULOSE, HYDROXY- CELLULOSE ETHER ACETIC ACID, SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE, SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE, SODIUM CARMELLOSE, SODIUM CMC, and SODIUM SALT CELLULOSE, ETHER WITH GLYCOLIC ACID

What is Cellulose Gum used for?

Cellulose Gum is used as a supporting ingredient for it’s glide and smoothing properties in many recipes but will not make a suitable hair or body gel used as a large percentage of a recipe because it will peel as it dries.

How Cellulose Gum is classified

Plant Extracts, Texture Enhancer

Recommendations for using Cellulose Gum during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Cellulose Gum During Pregnancy

What we know about using Cellulose Gum while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

Groups of 11-13 mice were injected ip on days 3-7 or 8-12 of pregnancy with 10 ml/kg physiological saline, sesame oil, 1 or 4% Hydroxyethylcellulose. Reproductive effects were determined on day 19. Fetal resorption was significantly increased by Hydroxyethylcellulose at both concentrations when administered on days 3-7; there were 18.7 and 43.8% resorptions for 1 and 4% Hydroxyethylcellulose, respectively, compared to 8.3% for the saline control and 5.1% for the sesame oil. Weights of the surviving fetuses in the 4% Hydroxyethylcellulose group administered on days 3-7 were significantly increased. This same group had 10.20 and 10.53% gross visceral and skeletal deformities, respectively, compared to 1.98 and 1.96% for the saline control, 4.65 and 9.76% for the 1% Hydroxyethylcellulose solution, and 1.39 and 8.57% for the sesame oil. All groups receiving the Hydroxyethylcellulose solutions had a lower percentage of fetuses with additional ribs than the saline control (Guettner et al. 1981). Kitagawa et al. (1978) studied the reproductive effects of Hydroxypropylcellulose in both rabbits and rats. Doses of 0, 200, 1000, and 5000 mg Hydroxypropylcellulose/kg per day were administered by stomach tube to groups of 12, 11, 11, and 12 Himalayan rabbits, respectively, on days 6-18 of gestation. Hydroxypropylcellulose was suspended in 1% gum arabic solution; controls received 10 mg/kg of the vehicle. The low dose represented 10 times the human use level, and the high dose was the largest amount of substance technically possible to administer by stomach tube. Cesarean sections were performed on the 29th day of gestation. All of the fetuses were examined for skeletal and organ malformations. No embryotoxic or teratogenic effects were noted, and no adverse influence on behavior, appearance, and growth of the maternal rabbits was observed. Wistar rats received similar doses of Hydroxypropylcellulose, 0, 200, 1000, and 5000 mg/kg per day by stomach tube on days 7-17 of gestation. Hydroxypropylcellulose was suspended in 1% gum arabic solution; the controls received 62.5 ml/kg of the vehicle. The low and high doses represented 10 and 250 times the human use level, respectively. On day 21 of gestation, cesarean sections were performed on 21-24 rats in each dose group; the remaining 12-15 rats in each dose group were allowed to deliver spontaneously. Those pups delivered spontaneously were weaned at 28 days, and 2 males and 2 females from each litter were 1 randomly selected for F generation reproduction studies. No significant embryotoxic or teratogenic effects nor abnormalities 1 in fetal skeletal development and F generation reproductive abilities were noted (Kitagawa et al. 1978). In two separate studies, three generations of rats were fed basal diets containing up to 5% Methylcellulose. These rats consumed more feed than the controls and had increased body weights. No significant adverse effects were noted on reproductive function. At gross and microscopic examination of the first generation animals (in one study), no tissue damage was observed (FASEB 1974). Pregnant rabbits were fed diets containing 0.25-0.5% Methylcellulose on days 9-16 of gestation. No reproductive effects were noted; however, some fetal toxicity was observed (FASEB 1974). Methylcellulose, in corn oil, was administered by intubation to pregnant mice, rats, and hamsters. Doses of 345 mg/kg Methylcellulose given to mice on days 6-15 of gestation produced no effects on nidation or maternal or fetal survival. Doses of Methylcellulose (1600 mg/kg per day) similarly administered to mice produced no clear evidence of reproductive effects; however, this dose did produce an increase in maternal mortality and number of resorptions and a decrease in pregnancy rate and fetal growth. These latter effects were attributed to the 50 administration of a dose essentially equal to an LD , even though administered over a period of 10 days. Similar studies in rats and hamsters, administered doses up to 1320 and 1000 mg/kg per day for 10 and 5 days of gestation, respectively, produced no significant effects on nidation or maternal or fetal survival. Abnormalities in the soft or skeletal tissues of test and shamtreated controls were comparable (FASEB 1974). The reproductive toxicity of Methylcellulose was studied in CD/1 mice. Groups of 20 pregnant mice were administered Methylcellulose doses of 0, 70, 153, 330, and 700 mg/kg by gavage on days 6-15 of gestation. The high dose was equal to 10% o 50 f the LD . Methylcellulose was administered as a 1.2% suspension in corn oil; the negative control group received an equal volume dose of corn oil, and the positive controls received 150 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid. The mice were killed on day 17 of gestation, and the urogenital tracks were examined at necropsy. Fetal abnormalities were determined by external, visceral, and skeletal examinations. No significant teratogenic or toxic effects were noted (Cannon Labs 1975). The reproductive toxicity of Methylcellulose wassimilarly studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Groups of 20 pregnant rats received Methylcellulose doses of 0, 120, 260, 556, and 1200 mg/kg by gavage on days 6-15 of gestation. The high dose was equal to 10% o 50 f the LD . Methylcellulose was administered as a 10% suspension in corn oil; the negative control group received an equal volume dose of corn oil, and the positive controls received 250 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid. The rats were killed on day 20 of gestation, and the urogenital tracks were examined. Fetal abnormalities were determined by external, visceral, and skeletal examinations. No significant teratogenic or toxic effects were noted (Cannon Labs 1975). Three generations of rats were fed diets containing 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg Cellulose Gum. A slight increase in weight was observed in the treated animals. No significant adverse effects were noted in fertility, gross or microscopic lesions, urinalyses, and hematological values (Informatics 1972). Rats fed 5 ml of a 0.2% solution of Caboxymethylcellulose on the eleventh day of gestation showed an increase in resorption rate and in the number of malformed fetuses (FASEB 1974). Methylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, and Carboxymethylcellulose have been used as vehicles and negative controls in various reproductive studies. Concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 1.25% for Methylcellulose (Horvath et al. 1976; Robertson et al. 1979), 0.5 to 2% for Cellulose Gum (Fritz et al. 1976; Miller and Becker 1976) and 1% for Carboxymethylcellulose (Sullivan and McElhatton 1977). Gupta et al. (1996) evaluated the reproductive toxicity of a l t e r n a t i v e v e h i c l e s ( P E G – 4 0 0 , c r e m e p h o r , Carboxymethylcellulose) in comparison with Methylcellulose (0.5%). Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 dose groups (10/group). The animals were dosed between gestational day 6 – 17 (rats) and 6 – 18 (rabbits) by oral gavage at concentrations of 1 ml/kg (rats) and 2 ml/kg (rabbits) with either 0.5% Methylcellulose, PEG-400, cremephor, or 0.1% Carboxymethylcellulose. Feed consumption and body weights were recorded daily. Cesarean sections were performed on gestational days 21 and 28 for the rats and rabbits, respectively. Reproductive parameters, 29 numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites, and resorptions were recorded and the fetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal malformations. In the rabbits, loose stools were noted in the PEG-400, cremephor, and 0.1% Carboxymethylcellulose groups. There were no treatment-related mortalities. Body weights, feed consumption and reproductive parameters were comparable between the groups. Some differences were noted in the incidences of minor anomalies between groups, but none were biologically significant (Gupta et al. 1996). Hoshi et al. (1985) reported on a fertility study was carried out in Slc: SD rats orally administered Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate (HPMCAS), a useful pharmaceutical excipient, at dose levels of 625, 1,250 and 2,500 mg/kg/day. Male rats were treated with HPMCAS from 60 days before pairing until the completion of mating. Female rats received HPMCAS for 22 days, from 14 days prior to mating up to Day 7 of gestation. All pregnant females were sacrificed on Day 21 of gestation and all fetuses were examined for abnormalities. No abnormal signs were seen in mating or fertility in the rats treated with HPMCAS. No external, internal and skeletal anomalies attributable to HPMCAS were observed in the fetuses. It was concluded that HPMCAS had no harmful effect on mating, fertilization, implantation, or embryonic development. Hoshi et al. (1985) also reported on a perinatal and postnatal study was carried out in Slc: SD rats orally administered Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate (HPMCAS), at dose levels of 625, 1,250 and 2,500 mg/kg/day for a period from day 17 of gestation to day 21 after delivery. All pregnant rats were allowed to litter naturally, and the postnatal development of the offsprings was observed. In the administered group of 2500 mg/kg, the liver weight was significantly increased in males and showed a tendency to increase in females as compared with control. No significant differences between the control group and the administered groups were found in postnatal growth and differentiation, behavior and reproductive ability of male and female offsprings. A reproductive study was carried out in New Zealand White rabbits in order to examine the teratogenic potentiality of HPMCAS (Hoshi et al. 1985). HPMCAS was orally administered at dose levels of 625, 1,250 and 2,500 mg/kg/day for a period of 13 days from day 6 to day 18 of gestation. All pregnant females were sacrificed on day 29 of gestation and their fetuses were examined. The administration of HPMCAS during a period of organogenesis produced no embryotoxic and teratogenic effects as well as no influence on behavior, appearance and growth of animals. Palmieri et al. (2000) reported on a developmental toxicity study of Ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion administered orally to rats. Groups of 25 presumed-pregnant Charles River Sprague-Dawley CD rats received doses of 0, 903, 2709, and 4515 mg/kg/day (dry weight basis) of Ethylcellulose administered undiluted once daily via oral gavage on days 6-15 of gestation. All surviving dams underwent Cesearean sectioning on day 20 of gestation. Fetuses were weighed, sacrificed and subject to external, visceral and skeletal evaluations. No test material-related maternal deaths occurred; 1 high-dose female died on day 14 due to gavage error. The only treatmentrelated clinical sign noted among dams receiving 2709 mg/kg/day and greater was pale feces, which were attributed to the presence of the test material in the feces. No statistically significant differences were noted among the measured maternal parameters. Fetal sex ratios and body weights were similar in all groups. The results of external and visceral fetal evaluations revealed no treatment-related alterations. The only statistically significant findings noted during the skeletal evaluation were increased litter incidences of incompletely ossified or wavy ribs noted among fetuses receiving 4515 mg/kg/day, and a significant increase in the litter incidence of thickened ribs at doses of 2709 and 4515 mg/kg/day. Given the nature of these findings and the lack of effects on any other parameter measured in this study, they were not considered by the authors to be adverse effects of treatment. Under the conditions of thisstudy, the authors reported that the maternal and fetal NOAEL was in excess of 4515 mg/kg/day (Palmieri et al. 2000). Cappon et al. (2003) evaluated the potential for Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate/Succinate (HPMCAS) to produce developmental and reproductive toxicity in a series of studies that included rat and rabbit teratology studies, a rat fertility study, and a rat peri- and postnatal study. The authors concluded that there were no compound-related findings. In the cesarean-section phase of the rat teratology study, however, clubfoot was reported for 0.8, 2.1, 5.5, and 4.1% of fetuses in the control, 625, 1250, and 2500 mg/kg groups, respectively. There were no significant increases in external anomalies, but the apparent dose-related increase in clubfoot was not specifically addressed. In the rabbit teratology study, the number of litters evaluated (12- 13 per group) was not consistent with current regulatory guidelines. Therefore, to definitively establish the potential of HPMCAS to produce developmental toxicity, embryo/fetal development studies were carried out in rats and rabbits. Groups of 20 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits were dosed with 0, 50, 150, 625, or 2500 mg/kg HPMCAS from gestational day (GD) 6-17 or GD 7-19 for rats and rabbits, respectively. Fetuses were collected by cesarean section and examined for external, visceral and skeletal development. No developmental toxicity was observed as a result of HPMCAS exposure demonstrating that maternal HPMCAS exposure during gestation does not induce developmental anomalies. There were no findings of clubfoot or other limb anomalies in these studies at dose levels equivalent to those that were previously associated with a possible increase in clubfoot. The conclusion of the earlier study indicating that treatment with HPMCAS at doses up to and including 2500 mg/kg did not produce developmental toxicity was confirmed with these studies. The authors stated that it was likely that the clubfoot noted in the earlier rat teratology study was a misdiagnosis or artifact (Cappon et al. 2003).

General safety info about Cellulose Gum from CIR

An earlier safety assessment of several cellulose polymers has been expanded to include cellulose itself and other cellulose polymers used in cosmetics. In general, these ingredients are modified cellulose polymers formed by reaction with the free hydroxyl groups in cellulose. The number of hydroxyl groups reacting, as well as the nature of the substitute group, largely determine the physical properties, particularly solubility, of the product. These ingredients are used in a wide variety of cosmetics as thickeners, suspending agents, film formers, stabilizers, emulsifiers, emollients, binders, or water-retention agents. These ingredients do not appreciably penetrate the skin barrier. Cellulose and its polymers pass essentially unchanged through the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration and are practically non-toxic. Ocular and dermal irritation studies indicate, at most, minimal irritants and not sensitizers. These ingredients are considered safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentration given in this safety assessment.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Cellulose Gum

SEPHORA COLLECTION Peppermint Gum Mask – Toning, Dr. Jart+ Sheet Masks, LANEIGE Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser