Corallina Officinalis Extract
Also known as Coralline red algae extract, Coral seaweed extract, Calcified red algae extract
“CIR Expert Panel says: safe as used in cosmetics.”
CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT is a whole-extract preparation of the calcified red marine algae Corallina officinalis (coralline red algae), a species whose fronds are heavily mineralized with calcium carbonate (CaCO3 typically ~80-85% by dry weight in the calcified thallus). Used in cosmetic formulations primarily for trace mineral content (calcium, magnesium) and as a marine-sourced 'minerality' or 'oceanic' claim. The CIR Expert Panel concluded the extract is Safe (S, no qualifying conditions) in the September 2021 marine red algae group assessment — landing on the SAFE side of that assessment alongside Chondrus crispus (and Cladosiphon Okamuranus, the brown algae mozuku), and distinct from sister red algae species in the same report that received Insufficient (I) findings (Asparagopsis Armata, Calliblepharis Ciliata, Ceramium Kondoi/Rubrum, Chondracanthus Teedei Powder, Cladosiphon Novae-Caledoniae). All three Corallina officinalis preparations covered by the assessment — Extract, Powder, and Thallus Extract — received the same Safe finding. The Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis variants are also rated Safe in the same 2021 group report. Fahmy et al. (2025/2026, PMID 40742752) characterized chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers loaded with crude Corallina officinalis extract for wound dressing applications, demonstrating antibacterial activity (28 mm zone of inhibition against E. coli; 22 mm against S. aureus at 3% extract), excellent biocompatibility, and minimal cytotoxicity — supporting topical safety at the demonstrated formulation levels. Salaah & Sharaf (2024, PMID 38903055) characterized secondary metabolites of Corallina officinalis and its endosymbiotic fungi via comparative metabolomics, contextualizing the extract's bioactive constituent profile.
Calcium carbonate-rich whole extract from heavily mineralized red algae thallus — provides trace mineral content (calcium, magnesium) consistent with marketed 'marine minerality' cosmetic positioning
CIR Expert Panel concluded Safe (S) in the September 2021 marine red algae group assessment, with no qualifying conditions — among the strongest possible CIR verdicts; alongside Chondrus crispus on the SAFE side of that assessment
All Corallina officinalis preparations in the 2021 assessment (Extract, Powder, Thallus Extract) and the Hydrolyzed variants share the Safe finding — the assessment scope is broad across preparation forms
Demonstrated topical biocompatibility in nanofiber wound-dressing application at 3% extract loading — antibacterial against gram-negative and gram-positive organisms with minimal cytotoxicity
Marketed for skin-conditioning, mineral-replenishing, and 'oceanic-mineral' positioning — consistent with the calcified thallus and trace-mineral profile
Marine red algae naturally accumulate trace heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead) and iodine from seawater — relevant to extract quality control and source provenance, particularly for extracts from polluted coastal waters; PMID 36893650 documents Corallina officinalis as a heavy-metal bioindicator. Cosmetic-grade extracts should be sourced from controlled harvest locations with documented heavy-metal compliance
The CIR 09/2021 marine red algae group assessment rated SOME other red algae species as Insufficient data (I) — Asparagopsis, Calliblepharis, Ceramium, Chondracanthus, and Cladosiphon Novae-Caledoniae all received I findings in the same report. The Safe finding is specific to Corallina officinalis (and its hydrolyzed variants) and does NOT generalize to other red or marine algae INCIs
The Corallina genus is heavily calcified (CaCO3 makes up the majority of the thallus dry weight) — extract composition varies markedly with extraction method (water vs solvent vs hydrothermal); the CIR Safe finding is for whole-extract cosmetic preparations as a class, not specific to a single extraction process
CIR Quick Reference Table (September 2022) — Corallina Officinalis Extract row: Finding=S, Citation=Final Report Available from CIR 09/2021
“Corallina Officinalis Extract | S | | Final Report Available from CIR 09/2021”— QuickReferenceTable_AllConclusionTypes.pdf, p. 158