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KO

kojic acid (kojic acid, Vinas)

✓ Approved

Vinas · TYR

What is kojic acid?

kojic acid is a therapeutic agent developed by Vinas. It is approved for therapeutic indications via topical.

Drug Profile

Brand Nameskojic acid, Vinas
CompanyVinas
Molecular TargetTYR
RouteTopical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Vinas

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

kojic acid acts on 1 molecular target:

TYRtyrosinase (ATN, OCAIA)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

kojic acid is developed for 2 unique indications across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersSkin disorder✓ Approved
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersDermatosis✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedInternational journal of molecular sciences2026-10-16

Curcumin-Based Tyrosinase-Targeting Derivatives for Cell Imaging and Depigmenting Effect.

Monforte Maura M, Pontoriero Marilena M, Bonaccorsi Paola Maria PM, Calderaro Antonella A et al.

Targeting melanogenesis through tyrosinase inhibition represents a key therapeutic strategy, highlighting the need for novel molecules capable of modulating melanin synthesis and/or serving as fluorescent probes for cellular and melanoma tracking. In this study, two curcumin (CUR) derivatives, CUR-C3-PP 1 and CUR-CO-PP 2, were designed and successfully synthesized by strategic integration of a 4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenol pharmacophore into CUR skeleton. In vitro enzymatic assays against Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase (AbTYR) revealed that derivatives CUR-C3-PP 1 and CUR-CO-PP 2 amplified the diphenolase inhibitory capacity (IC50 values of 51.20 μM and 12.89 μM, respectively) when compared to parent curcumin (IC50 = 168.57 μM). Notably, CUR-CO-PP 2 emerged as the most potent candidate, significantly eclipsing native CUR and outperforming the standard inhibitor kojic acid (KA). Enzyme kinetics and molecular docking simulations rationalized this enhanced profile, and the mechanism of inhibitory effects for compounds CUR-C3-PP 1 and CUR-CO-PP 2. Cellular assays highlighted that CUR-C3-PP 1 retained functional intrinsic luminescence, displaying selective accumulation and intense fluorescence within the cytoplasm of B16-F10 melanoma cells alongside preferential cytotoxicity. Screening in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos confirmed that both derivatives maintain an excellent biocompatibility profile up to 20 μM. In vivo, both compounds elicited robust, dose-dependent depigmentation, with CUR-CO-PP 2 closely approaching the efficacy of the control 1-phenyl-2-thiourea (PTU). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the imaging and anti-melanogenic properties of curcuminoids can be independently optimized through rational linker modification, establishing CUR-C3-PP 1 as a promising fluorescent tracer for imaging and CUR-CO-PP 2 as a candidate for depigmenting therapies.

PMID 42884001
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PubMedFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2026-10-16

Protein Composition and Postprandial Aminoacidemia of Biscuits Fortified with Brewer's Spent Grain and Fermented Brewer's Spent Grain in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome.

Leong Zi Ning ZN, Xu Yujing Y, Chen Jialin J, Chang Yidan Y et al.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), the main side-stream of beer brewing, is an abundant and low-cost source of plant protein with limited digestibility. Fermentation pre-treatment may improve protein quality by altering amino acid composition and increasing protein accessibility. This study investigated whether the solid-state fermentation of BSG with Rhizopus oligosporus could improve amino acid composition and further elicit a greater postprandial amino acid response after the consumption of BSG-incorporated biscuits in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Control biscuits (100% wheat flour) and biscuits with a 30% substitution of autoclaved BSG and fermented BSG were prepared. Compositional improvements were evaluated via an analysis of total and free amino acids and the amino acid score calculated against adult indispensable amino acid requirements. Fifteen adults with MetS then consumed 90 g of each biscuit in a randomised, double-blind, crossover trial, with postprandial plasma amino acids assessed over 120 min. Incorporating BSG increased the total amino acid content in biscuits, while fermentation further increased free amino acid content. The lysine amino acid score also increased from 0.57 (Control) to 0.81 (fermented BSG). Despite these compositional improvements, postprandial total and essential amino acid responses did not differ between biscuits, indicating a disconnect between improved protein composition and postprandial amino acid responses in individuals with MetS.

PMID 42883665
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PubMedThe Journal of small animal practice2026-10-16

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein in cats with lower urinary tract disease.

Culha N N, Acar A A, Ulutas B B, Dinler Ay C C

The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein levels in both obstructive and non-obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease. In addition, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein levels were investigated in cats experiencing short-term (<36 hours) and long-term (≥36 hours) urethral obstruction. The study included 32 cats, classified into two main groups: cats with feline lower urinary tract disease (n = 24) and healthy controls (n = 8). The feline lower urinary tract disease group was subdivided into obstructive (n = 16) and non-obstructive (n = 8) forms. The obstructive group was further divided based on urethral obstruction duration into short-term (n = 8) and long-term (n = 8) sub-subgroups. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and potassium were measured in blood samples. Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein and urinary creatinine concentrations were measured in urine supernatant samples. Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein concentrations were indexed to urinary creatinine and expressed as the urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine ratio. The mean urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine values of cats with obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease were statistically higher than those in cats with non-obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease and healthy controls. The difference between the mean urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine values of cats with long-term and short-term obstruction was not statistically significant. In addition, moderately positive correlations were calculated between urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine and serum creatinine (r = .646; P < .001; 95% CI = 0.264 to 0.863) and between urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (r = .549; P < .01; 95% CI = 0.081 to 0.791) in the study population. This study is the first to report urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease. The findings suggest that urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine may serve as a potential biomarker for identifying post-renal acute kidney injury in cats with obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease, particularly in long-term obstructive cases.

PMID 42885408
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PubMedFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2026-10-16

Integrated Multi-Omics and Molecular Docking Analysis of Malate Degradation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S4 During Sea Buckthorn Juice Fermentation.

Guo Xiaogang X, Lin Menghui M, Zhuo Laifeng L, Feng Yanru Y et al.

Sea buckthorn juice (SBJ) is nutritionally valuable, but its high malic acid content contributes to excessive sourness that limits consumer acceptance. In this study, the deacidification phenotypes of two lactic acid bacterial isolates, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S4 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei YJ2, were compared using fermentation phenotyping, sensory evaluation, enzyme assays, untargeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and molecular docking. After 96 h of fermentation, S4 degraded 91.98% of malic acid, compared with 69.50% for YJ2, and exhibited higher viable-cell counts and overall sensory acceptability under the tested conditions. S4 also showed higher crude-extract malate-conversion activity under MLE-favoring conditions. Molecular docking predicted more favorable interactions of malate with S4-derived MleP and MleS than with the corresponding YJ2 proteins; however, these analyses did not directly measure MleP-mediated transport or MleS-specific catalytic flux. Metabolomic profiling showed lower abundance of malic acid and several other organic acids in S4-fermented SBJ, together with increased abundance of succinic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, phenyllactic acid-related metabolites, D-octopine, and N-lactoyl-phenylalanine. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differences between S4 and YJ2 in carbohydrate metabolism, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, energy generation, and late-stage cellular maintenance. Integration of these datasets supports a working model in which malate-associated conversion, central-carbon redistribution, organic-acid remodeling, and acid-stress adaptation may contribute to the greater malate-removal phenotype of S4. Because only one isolate of each species was examined, the observed differences should be interpreted as differences between S4 and YJ2 rather than as species-level effects.

PMID 42883624
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PubMedPlants (Basel, Switzerland)2026-10-16

Salt Stress Tolerance, Antioxidant Response, and the Effectiveness of Seed-Applied Stress Attenuators in Pumpkin Cultivars.

da Rocha Daise Feitoza DF, Pereira Kleane Targino Oliveira KTO, Arruda Maria Valdiglezia de Mesquita MVM, Torres Salvador Barros SB et al.

Salinity compromises seed germination and early seedling growth, highlighting the need to identify tolerant cultivars and effective management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate tolerance to salt stress, antioxidant activity, and the effectiveness of seed-applied stress attenuators in pumpkin cultivars. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, six cultivars (Tetsukabuto, Soberana, Kin, Bahiana Tropical, Sergipana, and Adele) were subjected to three levels of osmotic potential induced by NaCl (0.0, -0.2, and -0.4 MPa). Germination, growth, and biochemical variables were evaluated. In the second stage, two contrasting cultivars were subjected to six treatments: control (0.0 MPa), salt stress (-0.4 MPa), hydropriming, gibberellic acid, ascorbic acid, and salicylic acid, all under salt stress (-0.4 MPa). In addition to germination and growth variables, oxidative damage (H2O2 and lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant activity (SOD, CAT, and APX) were evaluated. Salt stress significantly reduced germination, growth, and biomass accumulation. Cultivar Adele showed greater tolerance, whereas Tetsukabuto was more sensitive. Hydropriming, gibberellic acid, ascorbic acid, and salicylic acid mitigated the effects of salinity, with hydropriming showing the greatest reduction in lipid peroxidation. It is concluded that Adele, combined with gibberellic acid, and Tetsukabuto, combined with hydropriming and gibberellic acid, showed better performance under salinity stress, highlighting the potential of physiological and biochemical traits for identifying contrasting responses to salinity.

PMID 42884785
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PubMedMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2026-10-16

Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity, Phytochemical Phenolic Composition, Cholinesterase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities, and Antimicrobial Potential of Tribulus terrestris.

Ndhlala Ashwell R AR, Dikici Emrah E, Altın Sevgi S, Kavaz Yüksel Arzu A et al.

Tribulus terrestris (TT) is a medicinal plant traditionally utilized in the management of various health conditions, including inflammation, edema, and hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic profile of the ethanolic extract of TT and to evaluate its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Phenolic analysis revealed several quantified compounds, including vanillic acid, resveratrol, fumaric acid, acetohydroxamic acid, quercetin, hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, butein, caffeic acid, and catechin hydrate, while phloridzin dihydrate was detected below the quantification limit. Among the detected compounds, vanillic acid was found to be the predominant phenolic component. Biological activity assays demonstrated that the extract possessed remarkable cholinesterase inhibitory potential, exhibiting IC50 values of 9.11 ± 2.12 μg mL-1 and 8.77 ± 0.62 μg mL-1 against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. Furthermore, antioxidant capacity was confirmed through FRAP and CUPRAC assays, with corresponding values of 0.136 and 0.296. The antimicrobial efficacy of the extract was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium, revealing inhibitory effects against all tested bacterial strains. Overall, the findings indicate that the TT represents a promising natural source of phenolic compounds with significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and enzyme inhibitory activities, supporting its potential application in the development of pharmaceutical and therapeutic products.

PMID 42883138
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