Effect assessment of several skin lighteners

To assess the effect of several skin lighteners,B-16 melanoma cells were treated with arbutin,kojic acid licorice and ascorbic acid.The results show that after treated with arbutin,kojic acid,licorice and ascorbic acid at doses of 10 μg/mL,30 μg/mL,50 μg/mL,70 μg/mL,100 μg/mL respectively,melanin content increases and total cell number decreses significantly.Morphorlogical changes were observed.The change of activity of tyrosinase is not significant.The results suggest that 4 skin lighteners have certain lightening effects,its mechanism may be not related to inhibition of activity of tyrosinase.We should pay attention to the change of melanin content in assessment of skin lightener.