Deoxyarbutin is a tyrosinase inhibitor (IC50 = 17.5 μM for mushroom tyrosinase). It reduces melanin content in isolated dark human melanocytes when used at a concentration of 1.56 μM. Topical administration of deoxyarbutin (5%) induces skin lightening in human skin mouse xenograft models. Deoxyarbutin also inhibits proliferation of B16/F10 murine melanoma cells (EC50 = 39.56 μM). It induces apoptosis and halts the cell cycle at the S phase in B16/F10 cells when used at a concentration of 50 μM. Deoxyarbutin (50 mg/kg) reduces tumor growth in a B16/F10 murine melanoma model.
Deoxyarbutin acts as a skin whitening agent through the inhibition of tyrosinase. A safer alternative to the use of hydroquinone and arbutin.
Deoxyarbutin is a derivative of ?-arbutin, obtained by removal of hydroxyl groups from the glucose side-chain of ?-arbutin.
