SKIN WHITENING COMPOSITION CONTAINING ARECOLINE

摘要

PURPOSE: A skin whitening composition containing, as an active ingredient, arecoline capable of being obtained from Areca catechu L. is provided. The composition prevents pigmentation by inhibiting the formation of melamine without adverse effect and is thus effective for skin whitening or improvement of chloasma or freckles. CONSTITUTION: The skin whitening composition contains 0.000001 to 10% by weight of arecoline(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid methyl ester) of the formula(1) commonly known as an agent for treating disorders caused by cerebral ischemia including stroke, alcohol craving, decreased memory function etc., based on the total weight of the composition. The arecoline is obtained by extracting Areca catechu L. in a solvent selected from the group consisting of C1-4 lower alcohol, ethyl acetate, acetone, ether, benzene, chloroform, hexane, cyclohexane and petroleum ether.