Can Kojic lighten my skin?

What Is Kojic Acid?

Kojic acid is a naturally occurring hydrophilic fungal metabolite. It is a chemical product produced by fungal fermentation. Microorganisms such as Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus can produce kojic acid. Kojic acid can also be extracted from some foods (such as soy sauce and rice wine).

Kojic acid is made by fermenting and purifying glucose or sucrose under the action of kojic enzymes. In addition to whitening, people have found that kojic acid also has antibacterial and fresh-keeping effects. Kojic acid is a cyclic pyrone compound that can enter the intercellular matrix to form intercellular colloid, which plays a role in moisturizing and increasing skin elasticity. Kojic acid is a cyclic compound with two double bonds in the molecule, which can absorb ultraviolet rays. According to research and determination, kojic acid also has good sun protection effect.

Kojic acid has two inhibitory effects on the production of melanin: one is to make the hydrogenation catalyst of tyrosine required for the oxidation of tyrosine to dopa and dopaquinone inactive; the other is the inhibitory effect of dopa pigment on the production of 5,6-dihydroxyindole carboxylic acid. Because kojic acid has poor stability to light and heat, it is easy to oxidize and discolor; it is easy to react with metal ions; and it has poor skin absorption. Therefore, people have developed a large number of kojic acid derivatives to improve its performance.

What Are The Functions Of Kojic Acid?

1.Whitening

In human skin, tyrosine undergoes complex oxidation and polymerization with oxygen free radicals under the catalysis of tyrosinase, and finally synthesizes melanin. Kojic acid has the function of inhibiting the activity of the melanin-generating enzyme tyrosinase, and has a significant whitening effect without inhibiting other enzymes. It has good freckle removal and whitening effects. It is a commonly used cosmetic raw material and is widely used in lotions. , facial mask, lotion, skin cream, etc.​

2.Antioxidant

In addition to its whitening effect, kojic acid also has free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects. It can help tighten the skin, promote protein aggregation, and help skin tighten.

Kojic acid also has properties such as antibacterial ability, antioxidant properties, and chelation with metal ions. Kojic acid and its derivatives have been widely used in foreign countries for antibacterial preservatives in food, fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, mushrooms, meat products, and aquatic products. Antioxidant color protection. Kojic acid is also an intermediate in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics, a raw material for the production of non-toxic and pollution-free pesticides and insecticides for humans and animals, and is used as iron analysis reagents, film spot removers, etc.

What Is The Application Of Kojic Acid?

Application in the field of cosmetics

In human skin, tyrosine, under the catalysis of tyrosinase, undergoes complex oxidation and polymerization with oxygen free radicals, and finally synthesizes melanin. Kojic acid can inhibit the synthesis of tyrosinase, and thus can strongly inhibit the formation of skin melanin. It is safe and non-toxic, and will not produce sequelae of white spots. Therefore, kojic acid has been formulated into lotions, facial masks, lotions, and skin creams to make high-end whitening cosmetics that can effectively treat freckles, age spots, pigmentation, acne, etc. Kojic acid at a concentration of 20ug/ml can inhibit 70-80% of the activity of various tyrosinases (or polyphenol oxidase PPO), and the general addition amount in cosmetics is 0.5-2.0%.

Food processing field

Kojic acid can be used as a food additive to play a role in preservation, antiseptic and anti-oxidation. Experiments have shown that kojic acid can inhibit the conversion of sodium nitrite in bacon into carcinogenic nitrosamines, and the addition of kojic acid to food will not affect the taste, aroma and texture of the food; kojic acid is also the raw material for the production of maltol and ethyl maltol. In food processing, kojic acid has a wide range of applications.

Health care field

Since kojic acid has no mutagenic effect on eukaryotic cells, and can eliminate free radicals in the human body, enhance the power of white blood cells, etc., which is beneficial to human health, kojic acid has been used as a raw material for cephalosporin antibiotics. The finished drugs produced are used to treat headaches, toothaches and local inflammations, and have ideal analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

In the agricultural field

Kojic acid can be used to produce biological pesticides. Biological micro-fertilizers (deep red liquid) made by adding 0.5-1.0% kojic acid, whether it is sprayed as foliar fertilizer at low concentrations or made into growth and yield increasers for root application, this crop production promoter has a significant yield-increasing effect on grains and vegetables.

Kojic acid can be used as an insecticide, as well as a chelating agent and activator for insecticides. It is widely used in the production of agricultural insecticides. Moreover, it also inhibits the phenol oxidase of the diamondback moth. It can chelate with the Cu2+ active center of the insect phenol oxidase to inhibit its activity, thereby causing the death of the diamondback moth. Kojic acid can inhibit the growth and development of some insects, such as cotton bollworm, fall armyworm, housefly and fruit rope, and can also induce sterility in some insects such as the larvae of the genus Myxocyprinus.

Kojic acid can also be used as a growth promoter for crops, which can significantly increase the yield of grains and vegetables. It can be formulated into a low concentration and sprayed on the leaves, or it can be configured into compound fertilizers for application together.