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Ingredient intelligence

Alpha-arbutin

Pigmentation · Alpha-Arbutin · C12H16O7

CompareExplore biology

Arbutin is a glucosylated hydroquinone derivative studied as a with slower release than free hydroquinone.

Mechanistic only3 curated studies, none measured in people.

Any underlined term can be tapped for an everyday-English translation.

Molecular identity

Two-dimensional chemical structure of Alpha-arbutin
Formula
C12H16O7
Molecular weight
272.25 g/mol
PubChem CID
158637
ChEBI
Data unavailable
Open PubChem record →

Biological targets

Molecules & genes

Molecules

  • Alpha-arbutinC12H16O7 · 272.25 g/mol

Genes / proteins

How could this ingredient interact with biology?

Biological network

Ingredient → molecule → target → gene/protein → pathway → process → studied outcome. Relationship strength is drawn from the curated confidence tier; nothing is added to make the chain look complete.

100%
Alpha-arbutinAlpha-arbutinTyrosinase (TYR)TYRMelanin biosynthesisMelanogenesis

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IngredientMoleculeTargetGenePathwayProcessOutcome

1 lower-confidence relationship is hidden at this filter level. Use “Show more biology” to include them.

Text alternative for this network
  • Alpha-arbutin is molecule Alpha-arbutin — high confidence
  • Alpha-arbutin inhibits Tyrosinase (TYR) — medium confidence
  • Tyrosinase (TYR) encoded by TYR — medium confidence
  • TYR participates in Melanin biosynthesis — medium confidence
  • Melanin biosynthesis associated with Melanogenesis — medium confidence

Biological pathways

Melanin biosynthesis

medium confidence

Competitive in models.

Gene Ontology GO:0042438

Evidence engine

Insufficient

Not enough curated evidence to characterise this ingredient.

Skinceptor Evidence Index

19

experimental · of 100

This index is a research-navigation aid describing how much evidence exists and how it was produced. It is not a medical safety score, an efficacy guarantee, or a clinical recommendation.

Study composition

  • In-vitro2
  • Review1
Total studies
3
Human studies
0
Largest sample
Data unavailable
Range
2004–2011

Index breakdown

  • Study design quality32% × 28%

    Mean design weight across curated studies (meta-analysis 1.0, RCT 0.9, other human 0.7, review 0.45, animal 0.35, in-vitro 0.25).

  • Human evidence share0% × 22%

    Proportion of curated evidence measured in people rather than cells or animals.

  • Evidence volume63% × 14%

    Log-scaled count of curated studies, so volume alone cannot dominate the score.

  • Largest sample size0% × 12%

    Log-scaled largest reported sample size across curated human studies.

  • Replication0% × 12%

    Independent human studies, capped at three; one study is never treated as replicated.

  • Recency25% × 7%

    Linear decay over a twenty-year window from the most recent curated publication.

  • Source traceability0% × 5%

    Share of curated studies with a verified PMID or DOI in this dataset.

How is this determined? →

Insufficient comparable evidence for quantitative synthesis.

Research timeline

How the evidence accumulated

  1. 2004

    Alpha-arbutin inhibits melanin synthesis in human melanocyte culture

    In-vitrosample size unavailable · International Journal of Cosmetic Science

  2. 2004

    Alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin: comparative tyrosinase inhibition in vitro

    In-vitrosample size unavailable · Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry

  3. 2011

    Hydroquinone safety and regulatory status in topical depigmenting use

    Reviewsample size unavailable · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (review)

Ingredient fingerprint

7 nodes · 6 relationships · seed "arbutin"

The fingerprint is a deterministic visual signature: ridge amplitude comes from the number of entities in each tier, node placement from identifier hashes, and opacity from confidence. Two ingredients can never produce the same figure unless their networks are identical.

Open in Biology as Art →

Research

3 curated studies

ReviewAmerican Journal of Clinical Dermatology (review) · 2011

Hydroquinone safety and regulatory status in topical depigmenting use

Summarises efficacy in melasma alongside reported risks including exogenous ochronosis and the resulting regulatory restrictions.

Limitations — Review; regulatory status varies by region and changes over time; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCHydroquinone · Alpha-arbutin
In-vitroInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2004

Alpha-arbutin inhibits melanin synthesis in human melanocyte culture

Reported dose-dependent reduction of melanin content in cultured melanocytes.

Limitations — In-vitro only; hydroquinone release in skin not quantified; identifier not verified.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAlpha-arbutin
In-vitroBioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry · 2004

Alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin: comparative tyrosinase inhibition in vitro

Reported stronger tyrosinase inhibition for the alpha isomer than the beta isomer in enzyme assays.

Limitations — Enzyme assay only, no skin model; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAlpha-arbutin

Community evidence

Submitted by readers

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Reader submissions appear here only after review. They are not part of the curated dataset and do not affect the Skinceptor Evidence Index.

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Sources

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