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Detection of environmental depigmenting substances
Author(s) -
Gellin Gerald A.,
Maibach Howard I.,
Misiaszek Maria H.,
Ring Marsha
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1979.tb04853.x
Subject(s) - depigmentation , irritation , hydroquinone , chemistry , catechol , phenols , in vivo , screening test , ether , pharmacology , dermatology , organic chemistry , medicine , biology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , family medicine
We systematically screened the depigmenting capacity of several phenols, catechols and organic antioxidants. Clear‐cut depigmentation was achieved with monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (MMH) and tertiary butyl catechol (TBC) using black guinea pigs and black mice as animal models. A goal was to establish a reliable in vivo method to demonstrate or to predict the depigmenting action of chemicals on mammalian melanocytes. There was no universal solvent or optimal body site, although all tested areas could be depigmented. Irritation induced by some vehicles and test materials produced false positive responses. False negative responses with known depigmenting chemicals were observed. Utilising these observations, we propose a model for screening medicinal and industrial chemicals for depigmenting capacity.