ARBUTIN AS A DEPIGMENTING AGENT WITH SKIN LIGHTENING PROPERTIES: A REVIEW

Pharmaceutical science

Arbutin is a compound of hydroquinone and D- glucose extracted from bearberry plant, Alpha-arbutin and Beta-arbutin both are the derivative of hydroquinone. Beta-arbutin found in several plant species whereas Alpha-arbutin obtain by biotransformation, there have been serious studies on skin lightening and hyperpigmentation action of this substance. Arbutin and it’s derivative have been studied for their melanin synthesis inhibitory action. The efficacy of arbutin is alone or in combination with other active ingredient, combine therapy of arbutin with laser enhance the depigmentation efficacy. Arbutin rarely cause dermatitis when use in excess. It hopes that this review will help to understand the advantage and disadvantage of arbutin.

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