What is the Difference Between Methyl Paraben and Sodium Methylparaben

September 2022 · 3 minute read

The key difference between methyl paraben and sodium methylparaben is that methylparaben is a useful preservative agent for food items, whereas sodium methylparaben is the sodium salt of methyl paraben.

Methyl paraben is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH3(C6H4(OH)COO). Sodium methylparaben is an organic compound having the chemical formula Na(CH3(C6H4COO)O). Both these substances are important as food additives, and they have E numbers E218 and E219, respectively.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Methyl Paraben 
3. What is Sodium Methylparaben
4. Similarities – Methyl Paraben vs Sodium Methylparaben
5. Methyl Paraben vs Sodium Methylparaben in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Methyl Paraben vs Sodium Methylparaben

What is Methyl Paraben?

Methyl paraben is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH3(C6H4(OH)COO). It is useful as a preservative and is the methyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. This substance appears as colorless crystals or white crystalline powder. Naturally, it occurs as a component of the queen mandibular pheromone. Therefore, it can serve as a pheromone for many different insects. Moreover, this is a pheromone that forms in wolves during the estrus, which is associated with the behavior of the alpha male wolves. It prevents other males from mounting females in heat.

Methyl Paraben vs Sodium Methylparaben in Tabular Form

Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Methyl Paraben

Often, methylparaben is used as an antifungal agent in different cosmetic and personal care products. Moreover, we can use it as a food preservative with the E number E218. In addition, this substance is useful as a fungicide for Drosophila food media. Methylparaben is toxic to Drosophila at high concentrations. It can cause an estrogenic effect and can slow the growth rate in the larval and pupal stages.

Typically, methyparaben is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract or through the skin. Thereafter, it undergoes hydrolysis to p-hydroxybenzoic acid and is also rapidly excreted through urine. Therefore, it is not accumulated in the body. According to acute toxicity studies, methylparaben is practically nontoxic by both oral and parenteral administration in animals.

What is Sodium Methylparaben?

Sodium methylparaben is an organic compound having the chemical formula Na(CH3(C6H4COO)O). It is also named as sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoate. We can categorize it as a sodium salt of methylparaben.

Methyl Paraben and Sodium Methylparaben - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Sodium Methylparaben

This substance is useful as a food additive having the E number E219. It is added to food items as a preservative agent.

What are the Similarities Between Methyl Paraben and Sodium Methylparaben?

  • Methyl Paraben and Sodium Methylparaben are important in the food industry.
  • Both are capable of preserving food items.
  • They are useful as preserving agents.
  • Both have closely similar E numbers to be used in the food industry as food additives.

    • What is the Difference Between Methyl Paraben and Sodium Methylparaben?

    Methyl paraben is an organic compound that has many uses in the food industry as a food preservative agent. The key difference between methyl paraben and sodium methylparaben is that methylparaben is a useful preservative agent for food items, whereas sodium methylparaben is the sodium salt of methyl paraben.

    Below is a summary of the difference between methyl paraben and sodium methylparaben in tabular form for side by side comparison.

    Summary – Methyl Paraben vs Sodium Methylparaben

    Methyl paraben is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH3(C6H4(OH)COO). Sodium methylparaben is an organic compound having the chemical formula Na(CH3(C6H4COO)O). The key difference between methyl paraben and sodium methylparaben is that methylparaben is a useful preservative agent for food items, whereas sodium methylparaben is the sodium salt of methyl paraben.

    Reference:

    1. “Methylparaben Sodium (Inactive Ingredient).” Drugs.com.
    2. “Methylparaben Sodium.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Image Courtesy:

    1. “Methylparaben” By Rohieb – own work, SVG version of this file (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
    2. “Sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoate” By Ed (Edgar181) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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