Legal status · United States
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester legal in the United States?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester can be sold in the United States as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a dietary supplement". That is not drug approval: FDA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester in the United States at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a dietary supplement |
|---|---|
| Note | Mostly as a propolis constituent; purified CAPE is sold as a research chemical. |
| FDA approval status | Not an approved drug. Sold as a supplement ingredient and as a constituent of propolis. No human clinical trial has been published. The lifespan signal is a Gehan-only reanalysis result in female mice. |
| Human studies cited | 0 of 6 citations on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Caffeic acid phenethyl ester profile, checked against U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester can be sold in the United States as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means FDA has not evaluated any health claim; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, and quality varies by product.
- 03
Injectable or "research use only" versions are not supplements. That label does not make human use lawful, and injectables fall under medicines rules.
What Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is
Did not extend mouse lifespan by the Interventions Testing Program's protocol test at either dose; a 2024 Gehan reanalysis found a 5 percent female median gain at 300 ppm. No clinical trial of CAPE itself has been published in any human population.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is one of the active constituents of propolis, the resin honeybees use to seal their hives. It is studied in cell culture as an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF-kappa B, and in rodents as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in models of ischaemia, arthritis and chemical injury.
Mechanism: In cell culture, CAPE completely blocks activation of NF-kappa B by tumour necrosis factor and other inflammatory stimuli in a dose- and time-dependent way, preventing nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit without affecting other transcription factors; reducing agents reverse this, pointing to critical sulfhydryl groups. It also inhibits T cell activation through both NFAT and NF-kappa B.
Regulatory history: Not an approved drug. Sold as a supplement ingredient and as a constituent of propolis. No human clinical trial has been published. The lifespan signal is a Gehan-only reanalysis result in female mice.
How FDA treats this kind of product
Approves prescription drugs by indication and polices unapproved products, including peptides sold online. Compounding pharmacies may prepare some compounds under a prescription when the FDA places them on a permitted bulk-substances category.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of U.S. Food and Drug Administration listings for Caffeic acid phenethyl ester at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester in other countries
United Kingdom
Not approvedSold as a supplement
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester legal in the United Kingdom?Australia
Not approvedAvailable as a supplement / complementary medicine
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester legal in Australia?Canada
Not approvedSold as a supplement
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester legal in Canada?Frequently asked questions
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester legal in the United States?
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester can be sold in the United States as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a dietary supplement". That is not drug approval: FDA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile. Note: Mostly as a propolis constituent; purified CAPE is sold as a research chemical.
Can I buy Caffeic acid phenethyl ester in the United States?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In the United States Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is classified as "Sold as a dietary supplement", so oral, topical or cosmetic products can be sold under supplement rules. Injectable versions and products labeled "research use only" are not supplements and are not approved for human use. Note: Mostly as a propolis constituent; purified CAPE is sold as a research chemical.
Is Caffeic acid phenethyl ester FDA approved?
No. FDA status: Not an approved drug. Sold as a supplement ingredient and as a constituent of propolis. No human clinical trial has been published. The lifespan signal is a Gehan-only reanalysis result in female mice.. Current US classification: "Sold as a dietary supplement". On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.
Related compounds in the United States
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Caffeic acid phenethyl ester live on its compound profile.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester in the United States, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check U.S. Food and Drug Administration directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.