Type: Ingredient entity — regulatory & claim boundary record
Topic: Sodium DNA / Hydrolyzed DNA / Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA — cosmetic ingredients (PDRN-related group)
Evidence basis: KCIA ingredient dictionary (codes 1048, 4730, 10491); MFDS/NEDRUG drug product records (품목기준코드 201500071, 201504166)
Last Verified: 2026-05-25
This page records ingredient identity, regulatory context, and claim boundaries for PDRN-related cosmetic ingredients in Korea. It does not make treatment, disease prevention, or efficacy claims. See the Evidence Boundaries section below.
What Is PDRN in Korean Cosmetics?
PDRN — polydeoxyribonucleotide — is widely used as a marketing term in Korean cosmetics and pharmacy skincare. In the KCIA ingredient dictionary verified for this page, PDRN does not appear as a standalone cosmetic ingredient entry. The Korean Cosmetic Ingredients Association (KCIA) recognizes three separate cosmetic ingredient entries associated with this ingredient group: Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, and Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA.
Each of these is a distinct ingredient with its own KCIA code, definition, and listed cosmetic purpose. They are not interchangeable designations for the same substance. A product marketed as “PDRN” may contain any one of the three — and the ingredient label alone does not identify which biological source (salmon, plant, or other) the material was derived from.
In parallel, PDRN-named pharmaceutical products exist in Korea as separately regulated medical products: a prescription injectable drug and an OTC ophthalmic solution. These pharmaceutical records are included here as boundary evidence — not as support for cosmetic efficacy claims.
Ingredient Snapshot
| Field | Sodium DNA | Hydrolyzed DNA | Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCIA Code | 1048 | 4730 | 10491 |
| Korean Name | 소듐디엔에이 | 하이드롤라이즈드디엔에이 | 하이드롤라이즈드소듐디엔에이 |
| INCI Name | Sodium DNA (To Review) | Hydrolyzed DNA (To Review) | Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA (To Review) |
| CAS No. | 9007-49-2 | Not listed (KCIA) | Not listed (KCIA) |
| KCIA Definition | Sodium salt of DNA | Hydrolysate of DNA obtained by acid, enzyme, or other hydrolysis | Hydrolysate of Sodium DNA obtained by acid, enzyme, or other methods |
| Cosmetic Purpose (KCIA) | Skin conditioning | Hair conditioning; skin conditioning (other) | Skin conditioning (other) |
| Biological Origin (KCIA) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Status | To Review | To Review | To Review |
Note on “PDRN” as a marketing term: PDRN does not appear as a separate KCIA ingredient code. It appears as a raw material brand name in the product name fields of Sodium DNA (e.g., “Plant Cell PDRN,” “Vegan PDRN,” “UNI-PDRN”) and Hydrolyzed DNA (e.g., “raw-PDRN,” “TR1-PDRN™”). These are supplier brand names, not independent ingredient classifications.
Note on biological origin: KCIA ingredient definitions do not specify whether the source material is salmon-derived, plant-derived, or otherwise. A product whose label reads “Sodium DNA” may use material from any biological origin. The ingredient name alone is not sufficient to determine the source.
Regulatory Records
| Record Type | Product | Issuing Body | Record Number | Active Ingredient (MFDS) | Indication | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 전문의약품 (Prescription Drug) | 리쥬비넥스주 (Rejuvenex Injection) | MFDS/NEDRUG | 품목기준코드 201500071 | 폴리데옥시리보뉴클레오티드나트륨 5.625 mg | Wound treatment and tissue repair following skin grafting | Unknown (boundary record only) |
| 일반의약품 (OTC Drug) | 리안점안액 (Rian Eye Drops) | MFDS/NEDRUG | 품목기준코드 201504166 | 폴리데옥시리보뉴클레오티드나트륨 0.75 mg | Corneal/conjunctival nutritional support; minor damage from contact lens use | Unknown (boundary record only) |
These records are included to define the pharmaceutical boundary for PDRN-related ingredients in Korea. They are not evidence of cosmetic functional claims. The indications listed apply to their respective pharmaceutical products only and must not be transferred to cosmetic skincare claims.
No functional cosmetic regulatory record (기능성화장품 심사 또는 보고) was identified for Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, or Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA in this verification pass.
Claim Safety Matrix
| Claim Expression | Claim Type | Why It Matters | Safer Alternative Wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin conditioning purpose (피부컨디셔닝제) | Caution | KCIA lists skin conditioning as the cosmetic purpose for Sodium DNA (code 1048). This is an ingredient-level purpose designation, not a product efficacy claim. Risk of being misread as a functional claim. | “Sodium DNA is a cosmetic ingredient listed by KCIA with a skin conditioning purpose.” | KCIA 1048 |
| Hair/skin conditioning — Hydrolyzed DNA (헤어컨디셔닝제 / 피부컨디셔닝제(기타)) | Caution | KCIA lists these as the cosmetic purposes for Hydrolyzed DNA (code 4730). The “(other)” classification distinguishes it from Sodium DNA’s designation. Not a functional efficacy claim. | “Hydrolyzed DNA is listed by KCIA with hair and skin conditioning (other) purposes.” | KCIA 4730 |
| Skin conditioning — Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA (피부컨디셔닝제(기타)) | Caution | KCIA lists skin conditioning (other) as the cosmetic purpose for Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA (code 10491). Separate entry despite related naming. | “Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA is listed by KCIA with a skin conditioning (other) purpose.” | KCIA 10491 |
| Tissue repair / wound treatment / skin regeneration (조직 수복 / 상처 치료 / 피부 재생) | Avoid | These expressions appear in the MFDS record for Rejuvenex Injection (전문의약품) as pharmaceutical indications. Applying them to cosmetic products creates medicine-misrecognition risk. | No cosmetic safer alternative from this source. | MFDS/NEDRUG 201500071 |
| Corneal/conjunctival damage recovery (각막·결막 미세손상 회복) | Avoid | These expressions appear in the MFDS record for Rian Eye Drops (일반의약품) as ophthalmic indications. Using ophthalmic drug evidence to support skin care claims is not supported. | No cosmetic safer alternative from this source. | MFDS/NEDRUG 201504166 |
Evidence Boundaries: What This Page Does Not Claim
The three ingredients are not the same substance. Sodium DNA (KCIA 1048), Hydrolyzed DNA (KCIA 4730), and Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA (KCIA 10491) carry separate KCIA codes and definitions. The hydrolyzed variants have no confirmed CAS number in KCIA records. They are related but distinct entries.
Biological origin cannot be determined from the ingredient label. KCIA definitions do not state whether source material is salmon-derived, plant-derived, or otherwise. Products using plant-sourced material and salmon-sourced material may both appear as “Sodium DNA” on the ingredient list. The label alone is not sufficient to distinguish origin.
Pharmaceutical indications do not extend to cosmetics. The wound treatment and tissue repair indications of Rejuvenex Injection (전문의약품) and the ophthalmic indications of Rian Eye Drops (일반의약품) apply to their respective pharmaceutical products only. These indications cannot be used as the basis for cosmetic skincare claims.
No functional cosmetic claim is supported by current records. No MFDS functional cosmetic notification or review record for Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, or Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA was identified in this verification pass. Expressions such as “skin regeneration,” “DNA repair,” “collagen synthesis,” “skin booster effect,” or “post-procedure recovery” are not supported as cosmetic claims from currently available sources.
This page does not evaluate individual products. Product-level claims, concentrations, or formulation assessments are outside the scope of this ingredient record.
Related Entities
- Niacinamide — Korean Cosmetic Regulatory & Claim Record
- Adenosine in Korean Cosmetics: Regulatory Status & Claim Boundaries
- Arbutin in Korean Cosmetics: Regulatory Status & Claim Boundaries
- Retinol in Korean Cosmetics: Regulatory Status & Claim Boundaries
- Salicylic Acid in Korean Cosmetics: Regulatory Status & Claim Boundaries
- Hydroquinone in Korea: OTC Drug Status and Cosmetic Claim Boundaries
Source Transparency Note
| Source | Role | Authority Scope | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCIA 성분사전 | Ingredient naming | Korean/English ingredient name, CAS (where listed), definition, cosmetic purpose | Does not determine biological origin; does not support functional or medical claims |
| MFDS/NEDRUG | Pharmaceutical boundary | Drug product classification, active ingredient, indication | Pharmaceutical records only; indications do not extend to cosmetic claims |
KCIA is used for ingredient naming and purpose identification only. KCIA alone does not constitute evidence for functional, anti-aging, or medical claims.
FAQ
Q: What is Sodium DNA and how does it relate to PDRN?
Sodium DNA (소듐디엔에이) is a cosmetic ingredient listed by KCIA (code 1048), defined as the sodium salt of DNA. In the KCIA ingredient dictionary verified for this page, PDRN does not appear as a standalone cosmetic ingredient entry. In KCIA records, PDRN appears as a raw material brand name under the Sodium DNA and Hydrolyzed DNA entries.
Q: Are Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, and Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA the same ingredient?
No. KCIA recognizes these as three separate entries: Sodium DNA (1048), Hydrolyzed DNA (4730), and Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA (10491). Their definitions differ and their listed cosmetic purposes also differ.
Q: Can I tell from the ingredient label whether a PDRN product uses salmon-derived or plant-derived material?
No. KCIA ingredient definitions do not state the biological origin of Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, or Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA. A product using salmon-sourced material and one using plant-sourced material will both appear as “Sodium DNA” on the ingredient list. Origin is not determinable from the label alone.
Q: Was a Korean functional cosmetic regulatory record identified for this ingredient group?
No functional cosmetic regulatory record (기능성화장품 심사 또는 보고) was identified for Sodium DNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, or Hydrolyzed Sodium DNA in this verification pass. These ingredients are used in cosmetics under general cosmetic ingredient rules, not as notified or reviewed functional cosmetic ingredients.
Q: What do the MFDS pharmaceutical records for Rejuvenex Injection and Rian Eye Drops mean for cosmetic claims?
Rejuvenex Injection (전문의약품, 품목기준코드 201500071) and Rian Eye Drops (일반의약품, 품목기준코드 201504166) are pharmaceutical products. Their indications are pharmaceutical indications only and do not support cosmetic claims such as skin regeneration, barrier recovery, or post-procedure recovery.