ReviewClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2026
A Narrative Review of the Multi-Target Mechanisms of Glabridin in Skin Lightening.
Review in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Hyperpigmentation disorders are a leading cause of dermatological consultation worldwide. Conventional depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone and kojic acid primarily target tyrosinase, but their efficacy is limited by safety concerns and single-mechanism action. There is growing interest in natural multi-target compounds that modulate melanogenesis through complementary pathways. Objective: This review summarizes the diverse molecular mechanisms through which glabridin, a prenylated isoflavan from Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science. Studies reporting the effects of glabridin on melanogenesis, inflammation, melanosome transfer, and melanosome degradation were evaluated. Results: Glabridin inhibits tyrosinase activity and regulates melanogenic gene transcription. It also suppresses NF-κB-mediated inflammation, inhibits melanosome transfer through suppression of dendritic elongation, and promotes autophagy-mediated melanosome degradation. Additionally, this review addresses pharmacokinetic limitations, particularly poor aqueous solubility and bioavailability, and discusses formulation strategies designed to overcome them. Conclusion: Glabridin is a multi-target depigmenting agent that exerts skin-lightening effects through modulation of multiple nodes within the melanogenesis cascade, while maintaining an improved safety profile. This review provides an integrated perspective on the diverse biological activities of glabridin, bridging mechanistic insights with formulation advances to highlight its therapeutic potential in depigmentation. Further clinical trials are warranted to establish its therapeutic role in hyperpigmentation disorders.
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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.