Page 55 - Pharmd general phytochemistry I-Final2024_LEUCTERS

Alpha arbutin Beta arbutin

Alpha arbutin (4-hydroxyphenyl Beta arbutin (4-hydroxyphenyl
alpha glucopyranoside) beta-glucopyranoside)

• Does not occur naturally • Occurs naturally in plants.
• Is synthetic
• Found in the dry leaves of
• Is a stronger tyrosinase bearberry, cranberry,
blocker than the beta blueberry.
arbutin

• Synthetic α-arbutin is 10

times more effective than

natural arbutin.

Arbutin is less potent compared to hydroquinone, it has a stronger
safety profile with fewer risks of side effects

Arbutin vs Hydroquinone:
Arbutin is structurally very similar to hydroquinone

 Arbutin has less melanocytotoxicity than hydroquinone and
 less skin irritation.
 Arbutin does not cause ochronosis like hydroquinone .
Ochronosis is an uncommon disorder characterized by a clinical
appearance of blue-black or gray-blue pigmentation.

III- Cyanogenic or Cyanogenetic Glycosides
(Cyanophore Glycosides)

These are glycosides that yield hydrocyanic acid upon hydrolysis, so
plants containing these glycosides are known to be toxic.
The aglycone is usually a cyanohydrin of a carbonyl compound.i.e:
Condensation product of HCN and Aldehydic or Ketonic compound.

Pseudo-cyanogenic glycosidesPseudo-cyanogenic glycosides

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