Ethnobotanical Survey on Skin Whitening Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan

Abstract

The increasing interest and demand for skin whitening products globally, particularly in Asia, have necessitated rapid advances in research on skin whitening products used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Herein, we investigated 74 skin whitening prescriptions sold in TCM pharmacies in Taiwan. Commonly used medicinal materials were defined as those with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) > 0.2 and their characteristics were evaluated. Correlation analysis of commonly used medicinal materials was carried out to identify the core component of the medicinal materials. Of the purchased 74 skin whitening prescriptions, 36 were oral prescriptions, 37 were external prescriptions, and one prescription could be used as an oral or external prescription. After analysis, 90 traditional Chinese medicinal materials were obtained. The Apiaceae (10%; 13%) and Leguminosae (9%; 11%) were the main sources of oral and external medicinal materials, respectively. Oral skin whitening prescriptions were found to be mostly warm (46%) and sweet (53%), while external skin whitening prescriptions included cold (43%) and bitter (29%) medicinal materials. Additionally, mainly tonifying and replenishing effects of the materials were noted. Pharmacological analysis indicated that these medicinal materials may promote wound healing, treat inflammatory skin diseases, or anti-hyperpigmentation. According to the Spearman correlation analysis on interactions among medicinal materials with an RFC > 0.2 in the oral skin whitening prescriptions, Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (white) and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. showed the highest correlation (confidence score = 0.93), followed by Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (red) and Astragalus propinquus Schischkin (confidence score = 0.91). Seven medicinal materials in external skin whitening prescriptions with an RFC > 0.2, were classified as Taiwan qī bái sàn (an herbal preparation), including Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav., Wolfiporia extensa (Peck) Ginns, Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb. f., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino, Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (white), and Bombyx mori Linnaeus. Skin whitening prescriptions included multiple traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Despite the long history of use, there is a lack of studies concerning skin whitening products, possibly due to the complex composition of traditional Chinese medicine. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy and safety of these traditional Chinese medicinal materials for inclusion in effective, safe, and functional pharmacological products.

Extract of Bletilla formosana callus elevates cellular antioxidative activity via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibits melanogenesis in zebrafish

“…In the zebrafish assay, pigment production at the concentrations of both 50 and 100 μg/mL without observable toxicity and the B. formosana callus extract effectively suppressed melanogenesis in zebrafish, which was consistent with the result in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. The results of in vitro and in vivo assays are consistent with the historical dermatology use of Bletilla species for skin whitening formulations [ 2 , 39 ], indicating that B. formosana callus possesses similar active ingredients to plants. In addition, a large number of secondary metabolites in Bletilla species were identified, such as stilbenes, phenanthrene derivatives, bibenzyls, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds [ 3 ].…”

“…“Bai ji,” Chinese name for tubers of Bletilla striata , has been used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years in the treatment of several health dysfunctions, including gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, lung disorders, chapped skin, and traumatic bleeding [ 1 ]. More frequently, B. striata was historically used in the formula for skin whitening, such as qī bái sàn (七白丸) from traditional Chinese medicine books pǔ jì fang (普濟方) and qī bái tǐng zǐ gāo (七白挺子膏) from tài píng shèng huì fang (太平聖惠方) [ 2 ]. Recent pharmacological research showed that Bletilla species exhibit antiulcer, anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-aging, anti-allergic, and antipruritic activities [ 1 , 3 ].…”

An Ethnopharmaceutical Study on the Hypolipidemic Formulae in Taiwan Issued by Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies

“…According to the literature, medicinal materials with RFC >0.2 are defined as commonly used materials ( Chao et al, 2020 ; Ko et al, 2021 ; Su et al, 2021 ). In this study, a total of 17 of such materials have been investigated, which are ranked based on RFC in descending order: Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (RFC = 0.582), Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (RFC = 0.516), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.)…”

“…Following this, we corrected misused items in all collected medicinal materials, and the ratios of authentic and misused items were calculated. In addition, the relative frequency of citation (RFC) of all collected medicinal materials was calculated using the following equation ( Ahmad et al, 2017 ): After referring to ethnopharmacology literature, medicinal materials with an RFC >0.2 were deemed to be commonly used medicinal materials ( Chao et al, 2020 ; Ko et al, 2021 ; Su et al, 2021 ). Following this, the PubMed database was used to search for modern pharmacological research on these commonly used medicinal materials by using [(the scientific names of medicinal materials) and (Metabolic Diseases)] as keywords.…”

Study of the Chemical Composition of Rosa beggeriana Schrenk’s Fruits and Leaves

“…Rosa extracts derived from these plants are also widely used in cosmetics, promising antioxidant and moisturizing effects [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. All parts of this wild rose have been used in Asian folk medicine [ 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”