Mid Brain reports:
We get a lot of questions about skin lightening products like Meladerm so I thought you’d like to know that researchers say a Chinese flower holds potential as natural skin lightening ingredient.
Flowers for Algernon?
The Asian plant, Osmanthus fragrans, is already commonly used for flavoring tea and other beverages and is sought after as a fragrance ingredient. But now, according to Taiwanese scientists, it may be the next hot skin lightening technology.
Researchers led by Li-chen Wu from National Chi Nan University have shown that Osmanthus fragrans extract can potentially inhibit the action of the enzyme tyrosinase which is involved in the synthesis of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for darkening your skin. (It also gives us sun tans.) In vitro research has shown the extract causes a reduction in tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in a dose-dependent manner. But it’s not clear if the mechanism could work from topically applied products or if it has to be ingested or injected.
Best of all, it’s evidence that natural ingredients can really work. And we all know how that upsets the Left Brain!
Source: LWT – Food Science and Technology
Volume 42, Issue 9, Pages 1513-1519
“Antioxidant activity and melanogenesis inhibitory effect of the acetonic extract of Osmanthus fragrans: A potential natural and functional food flavour additive”
Authors: L. Wu, L.-H. Chang, S.-H. Chen, N. Fan, J.A. Ho
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I’ve been using Triluma, prescribed by a doctor. It was $200 for a tube (Ouch!) and I’ve only had marginal improvement from it for some really stubborn hyperpigmentation spots that even a laser wasn’t able to completely eliminate. After three months, the spots are somewhat lighter but the ointment irritates my skin. I hope this new product is effective and less harsh!
I really like this post, namely because the source was cited in a clear way. Now those of us who are curious can easily dig up the article! Thank you!
Interesting article. I’ve read that most skin lightening doesn’t really help to much. Has the flower been implemented in any skin products as of now?
The best extract combination that we know to lighten skin is the gigawhite combination along with a special form of vitamin c. I can tell you that vitamin c is without a doubt a magnifier when used with the herbal extracts to get you better results that just using the extracts alone.