Kojic acid
Chemical name: 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4h-pyran-4-one
Inci name: kojic acid
Cas no. [501-30-4]
Molecular weight: 142.11
Chemical formula: c6h6o4
Kojic acid is a kind of specialized inhibitor for melanin. It can prevent the tyrosinase activity through synthesizing with copper ion in the cells after it enters skin cells. Kojic acid and its derivative has better inhibitory effect on tyrosinase than any other skin whitening agents.
It is assigned into various kinds of cosmetics for curing freckles, spots on the skin of older people, pigmentation and acne. It eliminates free radicals and strengthens cell activity.
Specification:
Appearance property almost white crystal or crystalline powder
Purity (%) 99.0 min
Melting point (deg.C) 152-155
Loss on drying (%) 0.5 max
Ignition residue (%) 0.1 max
Chloride (%) 0.005 max
Heavy metals (%) 0.001 max
Arsenic (%) 0.0001 max
Iron (%) 0.001 max
Microbiological test: bacteria: 3000cfu/g max
Colon bacillus: negative
Fungi: 50 cfu/g max