Relation structure and action of antimicrobial activity α-arbutin, β-arbutin and hydroquinone

Abstract

Arbutin (C12H16O7) is aglucopyranoside of hydroquinone with two different configurations: alpha (α) and beta (β). The β-isomer can only be obtained from medicinal raw materials, and inturn, the α-isomer is its synthetic analog; the main difference between these isomers is that instead of β-glucose there is α-glucose. Hydroquinone is an aromatic compound which consists of benzyl and 2 OH groups in para-positions. Hydroquinone is a highly toxic compound and is carcinogenic. All over the world, arbutin-containing medicinal raw materials (lingonberry and bearberry leaves) are used for the treatment and prevention of cystitis, glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, as uroseptic, diuretic and antiazotemic agents