RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382659
Investigation of the instability of alpha and beta-arbutin
Arbutin is the D-glucose derivative of the aromatic compound hydroquinone. β-Arbutin occurs naturally in many species of the Ericaceae and Caprifoliaceae families. α-Arbutin is commonly produced by chemical or biotechnological routes. Both β- and α-arbutin became popular whitening agents because of their ability to interfere with the melanin synthesis in the skin, but they may represent a source of the hazardous compound hydroquinone in vivo or due to chemical decomposition. Because of this risk, both compounds have been investigated for the potential hydrolysis or anomerization using different solvents, pH and temperature. The degradation of arbutin in pear samples was also analyzed. The investigations were performed using diverse techniques, including 1H and 13C NMR, HPLC-DAD and optical rotation.