Tetrahydrocurcumin is an antioxidant and skin-whitening ingredient. What is the difference between curcumin and Tetrahydrocurcumin?

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Tetrahydrocurcumin vs Curcumin: What Are
The Differences?
In 1842, Vogel et al. isolated curcumin, a yellow crystalline substance, from
turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin is currently one of the largest-selling
natural food colorings in the world and is a food additive approved for use by
the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In
recent years, research on the different physiological and pharmacological
effects of curcumin has also made significant progress around the world.
In 1910, V. Lampe and J. Milobedeska further determined the structure
of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a colorless or white metabolite of curcumin. It is
more hydrophilic than curcumin and has been used as raw material for various
skin care products in the research and development of cosmetics, which has a
broad development prospect.
Tetrahydrocurcumin vs Curcumin
Figure. Tetrahydrocurcumin vs Curcumin
1. Tetrahydrocurcumin, structurally, has no unsaturated C=C double bond
compared to curcumin, so it lacks the conjugated double bond required for
chromophores, thus the color of tetrahydrocurcumin changes from the yellow
color of curcumin to white.
2. Compared with curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin is more stable, has stronger
antioxidant properties and is more bioavailable than curcumin, making
tetrahydrocurcumin more widely used.

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3. Tetrahydrocurcumin and curcumin have the similar efficacy in
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, whitening, and wound healing, but
tetrahydrocurcumin also has excellent ability to enhance skin radiance and
improve skin dullness and yellowing.
Tetrahydrocurcumin Curcumin
Origin
Hydrogenated derivatives
of curcumin
Isolated from turmeric (curcuma longa)
Color White Yellow
Molecular
structure
Tetrahydrocurcumin, structurally, has no unsaturated C=C double
bond compared to curcumin.
Property
High stability, stronger
antioxidant properties, higher
bioavailability
Poor solubility, relatively unstable
structure, low bioavailability
Application High-end cosmetics Health care products, functional foods
Table. Tetrahydrocurcumin vs Curcumin
Effects of Tetrahydrocurcumin
Whitening
Tetrahydrocurcumin can effectively inhibit tyrosinase and slow the production
of melanin, moreover, it is more effective than whitening agents such as
tretinoin, arbutin and vitamin C. At the same time, the powerful antioxidant
activity of tetrahydrocurcumin can also slow down melanin production, thus
brightening the skin tone and achieving whitening effect.
In a study randomized to a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 50 subjects,
researchers found that a cream with 0.25% tetrahydrocurcumin was more
effective and safer than a cream with 4% hydroquinone (a skin depigmenting
agent banned in cosmetics) in depigmenting formulation. [2]
Anti-inflammatory
The process of skin inflammation is complex. Tetrahydrocurcumin prevents
skin inflammation including erythema formation on the one hand and reduces
wrinkles as well as maintains skin elasticity and anti-aging on the other hand,
mainly by inhibiting major inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase,
lipoxygenase, interferon, transcription factor and nuclear transcription factor
(NF-KB).
Antioxidant

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Tetrahydrocurcumin has a variety of antioxidant functional groups, such as
polyphenols and ß-biketones, which make it possess strong antioxidant activity
and the ability to scavenge superoxide and peroxide. On the one hand,
tetrahydrocurcumin can scavenge the generated free radicals, and on the
other hand, it can inhibit the further generation of free radicals and break the
chain reaction of free radicals. This dual effect can make skin cells resist UV
damage and maintain skin health.
According to a study in a well-known American journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc.),
natural curcumin has 2.33 times more antioxidant power than bioflavonoids,
1.6 times more than vitamin E and 2.75 times more than vitamin C.
After continuous process upgrading, Huateng Pharma has
produced tetrahydrocurcumin, a cosmetic whitening ingredient, with white
color, high purity and low cost. Contact us at sales@huatengusa.com, we
have a large stock of tetrahydrocurcumin.
References:
[1] Aggarwal, B.B.; Deb, L.; Prasad, S. Curcumin Differs from Tetrahydrocurcumin for
Molecular Targets, Signaling Pathways and Cellular Responses. Molecules 2015, 20,
185-205. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules20010185
[2] A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, comparative
study https://sabinsa.com/newsroom/articles/SabiWhite.pdf
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