Inhibitory effects of hydroquinone-alpha-glucoside (HQ-alpha-G) on the
melanogenesis were investigated and compared with those of arbutin. T
he levels of inhibitory effects of HQ-alpha-G and arbutin on the tyros
inase activity were nearly the same. Inhibitory effects of both compou
nds on the melanogenesis, were studied using cultured B16 melanoma cel
ls, and HQ-alpha-G was also found to have a similar effect to that of
arbutin without inhibiting cell growth. In this experiment, while HQ-a
lpha-G hardly inhibited cell growth at 1 mM, arbutin inhibit it signif
icantly at the same concentration. From these results it is suggested
that HQ-alpha-G as well as arbutin inhibited the melanogenesis by affe
cting tyrosinase rather than by killing melanocytes. Furthermore, the
melanogenesis of guineapigs with brown hair was reduced to about 80% b
y applying them each compound The great differences in toxicity to nor
mal human keratinocyte were not recognized between these two glucoside
s. It is, therefore, considered that HQ-alpha-G is an effective and sa
fe ingredient for cosmetics.