Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34356362›Full record

ReviewAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2021

Arbutin as a Skin Depigmenting Agent with Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Properties.

Yong Chool Boo

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 89 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
89citing papers in PubMed
13.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

89 citing papers in PubMed, 207 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Isolation and Anti-Melanogenic Activity of Polycarpol fromJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Health Implications of Colorism: A Narrative Review of the Literature.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026
    Review
  9. Anti-Photoaging and Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a NovelJournal of microbiology and biotechnology · 2026
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. 2-Methoxystypandrone fromAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

29 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Yong Chool BooDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Cell and Matrix Research Institute, BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-9895-2066
Kyungpook National University · KR

Funding

Korea Health Industry Development Institute HP20C0004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Arbutin is a compound of hydroquinone and D-glucose, and it has been over 30 years since there have been serious studies on the skin lightening action of this substance. In the meantime, there have been debates and validation studies about the mechanism of action of this substance as well as its skin lightening efficacy and safety. Several analogs or derivatives of arbutin have been developed and studied for their melanin synthesis inhibitory action. Formulations have been developed to improve the stability, transdermal delivery, and release of arbutin, and device usage to promote skin absorption has been developed. Substances that inhibit melanin synthesis synergistically with arbutin have been explored. The skin lightening efficacy of arbutin alone or in combination with other active ingredients has been clinically evaluated. Combined therapy with arbutin and laser could give enhanced depigmenting efficacy. The use of arbutin causes dermatitis rarely, and caution is recommended for the use of arbutin-containing products, especially from the viewpoint that hydroquinone may be generated during product use. Studies on the antioxidant properties of arbutin are emerging, and these antioxidant properties are proposed to contribute to the skin depigmenting action of arbutin. It is hoped that this review will help to understand the pros and cons of arbutin as a cosmetic ingredient, and will lead to future research directions for developing advanced skin lightening and protecting cosmetic products.

Indexed as

antioxidantarbutincosmetichyperpigmentationmelaninmelasmanuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)pigmentskin lighteningtyrosinase

Identifiers

PMID34356362
PMCPMC8301119
OpenAlexW3179967564

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.