arbutin is a glycoside; a glycosylated hydroquinone extracted from the bearberry plant of the genus Arctostaphylos among many other medicinal plants, mainly of the family Ericaceae .
Applied topically, it inhibits tyrosinase and thus prevents the formation of melanin.
Therefore, arbutin is used as a skin lightening agent.
Very small amounts of arbutin are found in wheat , the skin of pears and some other foods.
It is also found in Viburnum opulus and Bergenia crassifolia .
[Arbutin was also produced by in vitro culture of Schisandra chinensis.
