Licorice powder (white)

Licorice White is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor that is safe to use. It has been shown to impact melanogenesis in multiple ways, using human melanocyte and keratinocyte models:

• It inhibits tyrosinase expression significantly better than kojic acid
• It decreases the catalytic activity of tyrosinase
• It inhibits melanin synthesis more potently than kojic acid
• It inhibits the release of Endothelin-1, a UVB-induced mediator that stimulates melanocyte proliferation and migration, and enhances melanocyte dendricity.
• It decreases the activity of Phospholipase A2. This enzyme up-regulates the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 and stimulates tyrosinase activity, and is also involved in melanosome transfer and melanocyte dendricity.

Further, a clinical study has demonstrated that 0.05% ViaPure® Licorice White is a more effective skin tone lightener than 2% kojic acid.

The active ingredient in  Licorice White, glabridin, is also known to be a potent lipophilic antioxidant that inhibits superoxide release from macrophages and elevates glutathione levels. It has been shown to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage.