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Hydroquinone


Mechanism of action:

Hydroquinone is a phenolic compound. Hydroquinone has a structure similar to a metabolic intermediate of tyrosine and can inhibit tyrosinase activity while interfering with the melanin synthesis pathway, blocking the conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and DOPA-quinone, thereby reducing melanin production.

Reference(s):

1. Matsumoto M et al. (2016). Risk assessment of skin lightening cosmetics containing hydroquinone. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 


2. Chen Y et al. (2016). Hydroquinone-induced malignant transformation of TK6 cells by facilitating SIRT1-mediated p53 degradation and up-regulating KRAS. Toxicol Lett. 


3. Gbetoh MH et al. (2016). Mercury, hydroquinone and clobetasol propionate in skin lightening products in West Africa and Canada. Environ Res.

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