Although hydroquinone has long been the standard skin-whitening agent throughout the world, its reputed cytotoxicity prompted a ban in 2000 in Europe and strict regulation in Asia. In response, in addition to combination treatments that include but rely less on hydroquinone, the armamentarium has expanded to include a wide range of active constituents... »

Because of the seemingly endless array of topics to cover in this column, I have never directly revisited a subject here (although some botanical ingredients have received individual attention as well as some focus as members of a class of compounds). But much has changed since I last covered phosphatidylcholine in 2003. In this month’s column, I will... »

Found in the leaves of pear trees and certain plants such as wheat and bearberry, and in lower quantities in cranberry and blueberry leaves (Dermatol. Ther. 2007;20:308-13), arbutin (C12H16O7) is a naturally occurring B-D glucopyranoside consisting of a molecule of hydroquinone bound to glucose (in other words, the beta-D-glucopyranoside of hydroquinone).... »

Leontopodium alpinum, better known as edelweiss (German for noble whiteness and understood as noble purity) is a European mountain flower and member of the sunflower family long honored symbolically in national currency, badges, song, and other forms of national pride. It is also the national flower of Switzerland. Of medical interest, the plant has... »

Feverfew, a member of the Asteraceae or Compositae family, is a perennial herb with a long history of traditional use.

The expression "feverfew" is derived from the Latin for fever reducer. Evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of feverfew has been accruing over the last several decades and is now considered well established... »

Borage, a plant with ferny leaves, electric blue flowers, and cucumberlike fruit, is becoming known in the culinary world as a tasty herb and condiment. But research on the medicinal properties of borage is still in the early stages, despite some promising work showing anti-inflammatory and antierythemic properties. The herb is worth investigating, as it... »

Research is finding intriguing properties of the flower that have potential for topical dermatologic products. »