What Is Neuromide (N-Palmitoyl Serinol)?

1. What is N-palmitoyl serinol?

N-palmitoyl serinol is a compound belonging to the N-acylamide family, a class of lipid-related molecules associated with biological lipid signaling and skin barrier function.

Ceramides, which are key structural lipids of the skin barrier, also belong to the N-acylamide family.
Based on this structural relationship, N-palmitoyl serinol may share certain biologically relevant characteristics with ceramide-like lipids.

Key Concept

  • N-palmitoyl serinol = N-acylamide structure
  • Ceramide = N-acylamide structure
  • Structural similarity may suggest potential functional relevance to skin barrier science.

2. Where does N-palmitoyl serinol come from?

N-palmitoyl serinol is known as a metabolite that can be produced by the human microbiome.

According to a study published in Nature in 2017, specific combinations of microbial genes were shown to generate N-palmitoyl serinol.

The study identified microbial gene clusters associated with:

  • Bacillus sp. 2_A_57_CT2
  • Desulfitobacterium hafniense DP7

In this study:

  • The compound was confirmed through gene synthesis and microbial biosynthetic analysis.
  • N-palmitoyl serinol was also detected in human fecal samples.

Conclusion

N-palmitoyl serinol is a bioactive lipid metabolite associated with gut and oral microbiome activity.

3. Similarities between skin and microbiome environments

Different human body environments have distinct oxygen exposure and microbial conditions:

  • Gut: largely anaerobic environment
  • Oral cavity: exposed to air
  • Skin: continuously exposed to the external environment

The oral cavity and skin share an important similarity: both are exposed to the external environment and air.
 This suggests that certain microbial metabolites identified in oral or gut microbiome research may provide meaningful insight into skin-related applications.

Key Connection

Microbiome → Metabolite → Potential Skin Application

4. Potential as a cosmetic ingredient

When N-palmitoyl serinol was initially reviewed as a potential cosmetic ingredient, it appeared to be a completely new candidate material.

At that time:

  • There were no known examples of its use as a cosmetic ingredient.
  • It had no established INCI listing.
  • It was not yet registered in the FDA SRS database.

Conclusion

N-palmitoyl serinol was identified as a novel cosmetic ingredient candidate with a unique microbiome-derived lipid background. 

5. Ingredient development process

To develop a new cosmetic ingredient, several key requirements must be established:

  • A reliable synthesis pathway
  • Purity data
  • Physicochemical property data
  • Analytical documentation

For this reason, a specialized synthesis company in the Netherlands was commissioned to carry out chemical synthesis and analytical evaluation.

Through this process, the required technical data package was prepared.

Key Development Pathway

Research → Synthesis → Data Package → Ingredient Registration

6. The birth of Neuromide

The trade name for N-palmitoyl serinol was defined as:

Neuromide

New + Ceramide

The name reflects the concept of:

  • A new ceramide-like lipid structure
  • A next-generation skin barrier science ingredient

Subsequently:

  • The Neuromide trademark was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  • An INCI registration application was submitted to the Personal Care Products Council.

7. Cosmetic ingredient registration

On May 17, 2018, the ingredient was officially listed under the name Neuromide.

This enabled:

  • Scalable production of N-palmitoyl serinol
  • Official use as a cosmetic ingredient
  • Further development of cosmetic formulations based on this novel lipid molecule

8. FDA SRS registration

N-palmitoyl serinol was later registered in the FDA SRS
(Substance Registration System).

Registration was completed on June 12, 2019.

  • INCI Name: N-Palmitoyl Serinol
  • UNII Code: Z0RQQ7PY44
  • Synonym: Neuromide

9. Key Summary

  • N-palmitoyl serinol is a microbiome-associated lipid metabolite.
  • It belongs to the N-acylamide family, which is structurally related to ceramide-type lipids.
  • It was not previously known as a conventional cosmetic ingredient.
  • It has been registered as a cosmetic ingredient under the trade name Neuromide.
  • Neuromide represents a unique cosmetic ingredient concept based on microbiome-derived lipid science and skin barrier research.

FAQ

Q. What is N-palmitoyl serinol?
N-palmitoyl serinol is a microbiome-associated lipid metabolite with an N-acylamide structure. This structural class is relevant because ceramides, which are key lipids in the skin barrier, also belong to the N-acylamide family. N-palmitoyl serinol is therefore considered a ceramide-related lipid molecule from a structural perspective and is being explored in relation to skin barrier science, lamellar lipid organization, and skin homeostasis.

Q. Where is N-palmitoyl serinol produced?
N-palmitoyl serinol has been reported as a lipid metabolite associated with the human microbiome, including gut and oral microbial environments. Microbiome-derived lipids are increasingly studied as biologically relevant molecules in skin science, particularly in relation to the skin barrier, microbial balance, and skin homeostasis.

Q. What is Neuromide?
Neuromide is the trade name for N-palmitoyl serinol as a cosmetic ingredient.  The name was created from the concept of New + Ceramide. Neuromide represents a new ceramide-related lipid concept inspired by microbiome-derived molecules and skin barrier science.  Unlike conventional ceramides, Neuromide is positioned as a next-generation skin barrier ingredient based on a unique microbial lipid metabolite structure.

Q. Can N-palmitoyl serinol be used as a cosmetic ingredient?
Yes. N-palmitoyl serinol, under the trade name Neuromide, has been registered as a cosmetic ingredient. It is listed with the Personal Care Products Council and registered in the FDA SRS (Substance Registration System). This means the ingredient is recognized in cosmetic ingredient databases and can be used in cosmetic formulations under appropriate formulation and regulatory conditions.

References

Disclaimer
This content is based on scientific literature and may include interpretation for educational and cosmetic ingredient communication purposes.  It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  For any medical condition or skin disease, consultation with a qualified healthcare professional is recommended.