Arbutin is a
glycoside; a glycosylated
hydroquinone extracted from the
bearberry plant in the genus ''Arctostaphylos'' among many other medicinal plants, primarily in the family
Ericaceae. Applied topically, it
inhibits tyrosinase and thus prevents the formation of
melanin. Arbutin is therefore used as a skin-lightening agent. Very tiny amounts of arbutin are found in
wheat,
pear skins, and some other foods. It is also found in ''
Viburnum opulus'' and ''
Bergenia crassifolia''. Arbutin was also produced by an in vitro culture of ''
Schisandra chinensis''.
It can be prepared synthetically from the reaction of
acetobromoglucose and
hydroquinone in the presence of alkali.
Folk medicine
Bearberry, which contains arbutin, is a traditional treatment for
urinary tract infections.
Skin lightening agent
Bearberry extract is used in skin lightening treatments designed for long term and regular use. An active agent in brands of skin lightening preparations, it is more expensive than traditional skin lightening ingredients like
hydroquinone, which is now banned in many countries. In vitro studies of human
melanocytes
Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural crest-derived cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea),
the inner ear,
vaginal epithelium, meninges,
bones,
and heart.
...
exposed to arbutin at concentrations below 300 μg/mL reported decreased tyrosinase activity and melanin content with little evidence of cytotoxicity.
Risks
Arbutin is
glucosylated hydroquinone, and may carry similar cancer risks, although there are also claims that arbutin reduces cancer risk.
[Bowman, Lee. July 25, 2005. Scripps Howard News Service]
High yuck factor not necessarily good for us anymore
The German Institute of Food Research in
Potsdam found that intestinal bacteria can transform arbutin into hydroquinone, which creates an environment favorable for
intestinal cancer.
See also
*
Ferulic acid
*
Taxifolin
References
{{reflist
Phenol glucosides