Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14112308

Review

. 2022 Oct 27;14(11):2308.

doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112308.

Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

Fan Liu¹, Linkai Qu^{1

2}, Hua Li³, Jiaxuan He¹, Lei Wang¹, Yimeng Fang¹, Xiaoqing Yan⁴, Qinsi Yang⁵, Bo Peng⁵, Wei Wu³, Libo Jin¹, Da Sun^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
² College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
³ Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
⁴ Chinese-American Research Institute for Diabetic Complications, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
⁵ Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China.
⁶ Wenzhou City and Kunlong Technology Co., Ltd. Joint Doctoral Innovation Station, Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China.

PMID: 36365128
PMCID: PMC9697978
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112308

Review

Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

Fan Liu et al. Pharmaceutics. 2022.

. 2022 Oct 27;14(11):2308.

doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112308.

Authors

Fan Liu¹, Linkai Qu^{1

2}, Hua Li³, Jiaxuan He¹, Lei Wang¹, Yimeng Fang¹, Xiaoqing Yan⁴, Qinsi Yang⁵, Bo Peng⁵, Wei Wu³, Libo Jin¹, Da Sun^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
² College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
³ Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
⁴ Chinese-American Research Institute for Diabetic Complications, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
⁵ Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China.
⁶ Wenzhou City and Kunlong Technology Co., Ltd. Joint Doctoral Innovation Station, Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, Wenzhou 325000, China.

PMID: 36365128
PMCID: PMC9697978
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112308

Abstract

Pigmentation diseases can lead to significant color differences between the affected part and the normal part, resulting in severe psychological and emotional distress among patients. The treatment of pigmentation diseases with good patient compliance is mainly in the form of topical drugs. However, conventional hydroquinone therapy contributes to several pathological conditions, such as erythema, dryness, and skin desquamation, and requires a longer treatment time to show significant results. To address these shortcomings, natural whitening substances represented by kojic acid and arbutin have gradually become the candidate ingredients of traditional local preparations due to their excellent biological safety. This review focuses on several natural whitening substances with potential therapeutic effects in pigmentation disease and their mechanisms, and a thorough discussion has been conducted into the solution methods for the challenges involved in the practical application of natural whitening substances.

Keywords: melanin; melanogenesis; natural whitening substances; pigmentation diseases; signaling pathway.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Melanin paracrine cytokines between skin cells interact with melanocytes. Increased melanin synthesis due to increased proliferation of melanocytes and increased tyrosinase (TYR) activity caused by paracrine secretion (Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 20 October 2022).

**Figure 2**
Schematic drawing of melanin synthesis, regulation, and transfer in melanocytes of skin epidermis and skin dullness. (A) Melanin produced by melanocytes is internalized by keratinocytes and then migrates and distributes to the surrounding membrane area, providing pigmentation. (B) Many cytokines activate signaling pathways by interacting with receptors on the melanin membrane and regulate the melanin production process through MITF. (C) Melanin production and transfer process (Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 20 October 2022).

**Figure 3**
Natural whitening substances that act through different pathways.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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1. Rossi A.M., Perez M.I. Treatment of Hyperpigmentation. Facial Plast Surg. Clin. N. Am. 2011;19:313–324. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2011.05.010. - DOI - PubMed
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[1] Kottner J., Beeckman D., Vogt A., Blume-Peytavi U. Innovations and Emerging Technologies in Wound Care. Elsevier; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2020. Skin Health and Integrity; pp. 183–196.

[2] Kottner J., Beeckman D., Vogt A., Blume-Peytavi U. Innovations and Emerging Technologies in Wound Care. Elsevier; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2020. Skin Health and Integrity; pp. 183–196.

[3] Rossi A.M., Perez M.I. Treatment of Hyperpigmentation. Facial Plast Surg. Clin. N. Am. 2011;19:313–324. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2011.05.010. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Rossi A.M., Perez M.I. Treatment of Hyperpigmentation. Facial Plast Surg. Clin. N. Am. 2011;19:313–324. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2011.05.010. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Raveendra L., Sidappa H., Shree S. A Study of Quality of Life in Patients with Facial Melanoses. Indian Derm. Online J. 2020;11:154–157. doi: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_209_19. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Raveendra L., Sidappa H., Shree S. A Study of Quality of Life in Patients with Facial Melanoses. Indian Derm. Online J. 2020;11:154–157. doi: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_209_19. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Gupta M., Mahajan V.K. Clinical Profile of 300 Men with Facial Hypermelanosis. J. Dermatol. Case Rep. 2017;11:20–24. doi: 10.3315/jdcr.2017.1244. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Gupta M., Mahajan V.K. Clinical Profile of 300 Men with Facial Hypermelanosis. J. Dermatol. Case Rep. 2017;11:20–24. doi: 10.3315/jdcr.2017.1244. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Handel A.C., Miot L.D.B., Miot H.A. Melasma: A Clinical and Epidemiological Review. An. Bras. Dermatol. 2014;89:771–782. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Handel A.C., Miot L.D.B., Miot H.A. Melasma: A Clinical and Epidemiological Review. An. Bras. Dermatol. 2014;89:771–782. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

Affiliations

Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Abstract

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