title: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of Serratulae quinquefoliae folium, a new source of β-arbutin, in selected skin hyperpigmentations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arbutin is one of the most effective lightening substances. Serratula quinquefolia is a new source of its β-anomer. The HPLC method showed that the solid content of this compound in the dried plant raw material accounts for 6.86%. The leaves of Serratula quinquefolia do not contain hydroquinone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of the aqueous extract from' leaf of five-leaf serratula as a skin-lightening agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We did a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The study involved 102 women aged 26-55, with two kinds of hyperpigmentary diseases: melasma and lentigo solaris. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups: a study group (N = 54) or a control group (N = 48). The study group applied the cream with the aqueous extract from leaf of five-leaf serratula containing 2.51% of arbutin. The cream was applied twice a day on the discolored side for 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental data showed that the cream with the extract causes decreased level of melanin in the skin pigmentation spot. Clinical effect in the form of lightening and evening skin tone on the discolored side was observed in 75.86% of the female patients with melasma and 56.00 % of the female patients with lentigo solaris.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cream with the aqueous extract from leaf of five-leaf serratula proved to be an effective and safe preparation for lightening skin discolorations (66.67 % of the female patients in the study group).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.|Department of Cosmetology, University of Social Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morag
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nawrot
authors.affiliation: Section of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Idzi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siatkowski
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinic of Dermatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Zygmunt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center of Melanocytic Nevi, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fedorowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dawid-Pac
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urbanska
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001104:Arbutin / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019659:Asteraceae; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008548:Melanosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations; D001104:Arbutin
keywords: Serratula quinquefolia; clinical trial; skin hyperpigmentation; β-arbutin