Arbutin (β-Arbutin) is a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase in melanocytes, with Kiapp values of 1.42 mM for monophenolase; 0.9 mM for diphenolase. Arbutin is also used as depigmenting agents[1]. Arbutin is a natural polyphenol isolated from the bearberry plant Arctostaphylos uvaursi, possesses with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties[2][3].
Arbutin (0.3-5.4 mM; 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours; B16 murine melanoma cells) inhibites the viability of B16 murine melanoma cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner[2].Arbutin (1.4-5.4 mM; 24 hours) increases the apoptosis rate of B16 murine melanoma cell of treatment at a dose of 5.4 mM[2].
Arbutin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg; oral administration; every day; for 17 days; male C57BL/6 mice) pretreatment exhibits markedly protective effects on ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice[3].
References:
[1]. Garcia-Jimenez A, et al. Action of tyrosinase on alpha and beta-arbutin: A kinetic study. PLoS One. 2017 May 11;12(5):e0177330.
[2]. Jiang L, et al. Investigation of the pro-apoptotic effects of arbutin and its acetylated derivative on murinemelanoma cells. Int J Mol Med. 2018 Feb;41(2):1048-1054.
[3]. Nalban N, et al. Arbutin Attenuates Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Inhibiting TLR-4/NF-κB Pathway in Mice. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2019 Sep 4.