Anti-Pigmentary Natural Compounds and Their Mode of Action

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 8;22(12):6206. doi: 10.3390/ijms22126206.

Abstract

Hyper-activated melanocytes are the major cause of skin hyper-pigmentary disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Increasing efforts have been made to search for materials with depigmenting activity to develop functional cosmetics. As a result, numerous materials have been reported to have depigmenting activity but some of them are known to cause unwanted side effects. Consequently, anti-pigmentary natural compounds without concern of toxicity are in great demand. Virtually all sorts of natural sources have been investigated to find anti-pigmentary natural compounds. This review summarizes recently reported anti-pigmentary natural compounds and their mode of action from the ocean, plants, and bacteria.

Keywords: Tyrosinase; melanogenesis; natural compound; skin pigmentation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Pigmentation Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Skin Pigmentation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Plant Extracts