hydroquinone / Generic mfg. - LARVOL DELTA

Base-promoted formal [3+2] dearomative spiroannulation enables construction of spirolactones from hydroquinones and α-aryl α-diazo alkynyl ketones. (PubMed, Chem Commun (Camb)) - "Herein, a base-promoted intermolecular cascade reaction of α-aryl α-diazo alkynyl ketones with hydroquinones is developed via a sequential Wolff rearrangement/dearomative spiroannulation. This protocol enables facile access to diverse enone-functionalized spirolactones in good to excellent yields."

Journal

Phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic assessment of hydroquinone using plant and animal bioassays. (PubMed, Drug Chem Toxicol) - "These findings indicate that environmentally relevant HQ concentrations did not induce genotoxic effects in mussels, whereas higher concentrations ≥25 mg/L caused phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic effects in plants. This study provides novel in vivo data that address current gaps in the understanding of HQ ecotoxicity."

Journal

A Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Real-World Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Fluocinolone Acetonide, Hydroquinone and Tretinoin Cream in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Melasm (ChiCTR) - P=N/A | N=1000 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University; The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University

New trial • Real-world evidence • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Characterization of LOV domain-ribityllumazine complex with blue-shifted fluorescence. (PubMed, Biochem Biophys Res Commun) - "Under blue-light irradiation, CagFbFP-bound LUM is converted irreversibly to 6,7-dimethyllumazine, whereas the more traditional chromophore RF undergoes reversible reduction to hydroquinone form. Crystal structure of the CagFbFP-LUM complex determined at the anisotropic resolution reaching 1.27 Å confirms that the chromophore occupies the canonical flavin-binding pocket. The obtained results pave the way towards engineering of LUM-based FbFP variants with blue-shifted fluorescence emission."

Journal

Prospective Evaluation of Topical Almond Oil vs Hydroquinone (clinicaltrials.gov) - P4 | N=50 | Recruiting | Sponsor: University of California, Davis | Trial completion date: Aug 2026 ➔ Dec 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Aug 2026 ➔ Dec 2026

Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date

Bergapten-Loaded Dissolving Microneedles for Vitiligo Treatment: A Synergistic Strategy Combining Nanocrystal Technology and Physical Enhancement. (PubMed, AAPS PharmSciTech) - "The hydroquinone-induced vitiligo model in mice further verified the effect of bergapten micropigmentation on skin pigmentation in mice. In this study, dissolvable bergapten microneedles were successfully established, which can significantly improve the transdermal drug delivery efficiency of bergapten and can effectively treat vitiligo disease."

Journal • Dermatology • Immunology • Oncology • Vitiligo • IL6 • TNFA • Tyrosinase

Simultaneous electrochemical detection of hydroquinone, resorcinol, and salicylic acid using novel MWCNT-OH/TiO2/chitosan nanofibers composite sensor. (PubMed, Talanta) - "The electrochemical performances also showed high reproducibility, stability, and selectivity. Thus, the sensor provides reliable simultaneous in situ detection in skincare samples, consistent with standard methods."

Journal

Research progress on the mechanism by which benzene metabolites activate the NLRP3 inflammasome via the AhR-ROS pathway to induce hematotoxicity (PubMed, Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi) - "Benzene is not a direct ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), But its metabolites such as hydroquinone (HQ) and 1, 4-benzoquinone (1, 4-BQ) could activate AhR through ligand-independent mechanisms, thereby initiating downstream intracellular signaling pathways and exerting hematopoietic toxicity...Benzene and its metabolites activate AhR, subsequently inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) -mediated oxidative stress which activates the NLRP3 inflammasome through multiple signaling pathways, ultimately leading to hematopoietic system damage. This article reviews the progress on the regulatory mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the AhR-ROS pathway in benzene metabolite-induced hematopoietic toxicity, providing a theoretical basis for targeted pharmacotherapy of benzene poisoning-related hematological diseases."

Journal • Review • Aplastic Anemia • Hematological Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology • NLRP3

Single-Probe Dual-Mode Biosensor for Cross-Validated Detection of cTnI in Myocardial Damage Evaluation. (PubMed, ACS Sens) - "In the EC mode, leveraging its peroxidase-like activity, the probe facilitates the conversion of hydroquinone to benzoquinone, which is then electrochemically reduced to produce a measurable current...This biosensor achieves an ultra-low detection limit of 0.12 pg/mL (ECL) and 0.46 pg/mL (EC), excellent selectivity, and demonstrates strong correlation with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in both mouse myocardial injury models and human clinical samples. This work establishes a reliable cross-validated detection platform for cTnI and provides a generalizable design paradigm for multifunctional nanozyme-based dual-mode biosensors."

Journal • Cardiovascular • Myocardial Infarction • TNNI3

Mechanistic Characterization of GedF Reveals a Ser-Tyr Catalytic Core with a Flexible Basic Residue in a Filamentous Fungal Anthraquinone SDR. (PubMed, Biochemistry) - "Here, isotope labeling experiments confirm that reduction of Questin-to-Questin hydroquinone incorporates one proton from NADPH and one from water...Phylogenetic and sequence analyses show that GedF belongs to the NAD(P)H-dependent SDR clade, and that variation in the positioning of basic residues occurs among homologues while preserving the conserved Ser-Tyr catalytic core. These findings elucidate the catalytic mechanism of GedF and uncover an alternative SDR catalytic strategy involved in anthraquinone ring-opening biosynthesis in filamentous fungi."

Journal

A Novel Chemiluminescent Probe for Effective Discrimination and Ultrasensitive Detection of Hydroquinone from Its Isomers Based on a Dihydroacridine Derivative. (PubMed, Anal Chem) - "The proposed CL probe successfully detected HQ from different environmental scenarios with recoveries of 96.2-112.6%. Potentially, the proposed CL probe with high selectivity, outstanding sensitivity, excellent stability, and good reproducibility characteristics could not only offer a reliable method for HQ detection, but also enable the efficient detection of HQ in complex samples."

Journal

Matching the Gold Standard: Clinical Evaluation Versus Hydroquinone 4% (EADV 2026) - "This session is sponsored by: ACM Laboratoire Dermatologique"

Clinical • Gold standard

Novel Peptide-Based Cream versus Hydroquinone 4% for Melasma: A Randomized Split-Face Study (EADV 2026) - No abstract available

Clinical • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Efficacy and Safety of a 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine containing (MB3) serum versus Hydroquinone cream as neoadjunctive and adjunctive therapy to Low-Fluence 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser for Melasma and Acne Induced Hyperpigmentation (EADV 2026) - No abstract available

Clinical • Acne Vulgaris • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Comparative study between topical hydroquinone 4% alone versus its combination with intradermal autologous platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of melasma: A split-face randomized controlled trial (EADV 2026) - No abstract available

Clinical • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Effectiveness, safety and tolerability of cysteamine 5% cream vs triple combination cream vs hydroquinone 4% cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma : an open label randomized controlled clinical trial (EADV 2026) - No abstract available

Clinical • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Intralesional Tranexamic Acid Versus Oral Tranexamic Acid Combined with 2% Hydroquinone in Melasma: A Randomised Prospective Interventional Study (EADV 2026) - No abstract available

Clinical • Dermatology • Dermatopathology

Information-driven nanozyme screening enabled sensitive detection of seminal neutral α-glucosidase activity reveals clinical infertility relevance. (PubMed, Biosens Bioelectron) - "In the established assay, NAG specifically hydrolyzes α-arbutin to release hydroquinone, which acts as a reducing agent to suppress the α-MnO2-mediated oxidation of TMB, yielding a concentration-dependent absorbance response...The reliability of our nanozyme-based assay was rigorously validated using clinical specimens. Notably, clinical testing revealed a significant correlation between seminal NAG activity and male fertility status, underscoring the practical utility of our biosensing platform for robust male reproductive assessment in infertility clinics."

Journal • Infertility • Sexual Disorders

γ-glutamyl carboxylase inhibition by Anisindione. (PubMed, Structure) - "The maturation of key coagulation factors requires γ-carboxylation catalyzed by γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), in which vitamin K hydroquinone (VKH2) is oxidized to vitamin K epoxide (VKO) and recycled by vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1)...Furthermore, our cryo-electron microscopy structure of the GGCX-BGP (bone Gla protein or osteocalcin)-anisindione complex reveals that anisindione directly occupies the VK-binding pocket of GGCX, consistent with competitive inhibition with VK. These results establish anisindione as a structural prototype for direct GGCX inhibition and provide a structural framework for developing anticoagulants beyond VKORC1."

Journal

Resorcinol and Related Simple Phenolic Compounds Increase Astrocyte Survival in a Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity Model. (PubMed, J Xenobiot) - "This study examined six phenolics: catechol, phloroglucinol, resorcinol, pyrogallol, hydroquinone, and hydroxyquinol, assessing their effects on astrocyte survival in a glutamate-excitotoxic model...These findings demonstrate that the effects of phenolics, whether protective or toxic, depend on concentration, structure, and timing, underscoring their dual role in excitotoxic environments. They also identify resorcinol as a promising candidate for further preclinical study."

Journal • CNS Disorders • Inflammation • IL6 • TNFA

Exogenous ochronosis: An underdiagnosed cause of acquired facial hyperpigmentation (PubMed, Ann Pathol) - "Exogenous ochronosis is an acquired dyschromia, most often iatrogenic or cosmetic, resulting from the prolonged use of hydroquinone-containing skin-lightening topicals...A repeat history revealed the prolonged use of skin-lightening creams of unknown composition. This case highlights how the diagnosis may be overlooked when the relevant history is not available, and the value of clinicopathological correlation."

Journal • Dermatopathology

Development of catechol-functionalized poly(nucleic acid)s for next-generation aqueous energy storage materials (ACS-Fall 2026) - "With the effort to replace petrochemically-sourced redox-active motifs, naturally sourced dopamine and hydroquinone derivatives were proposed...To overcome this challenge, we employed backbone engineering by developing a hydrophilic, redox-active poly(phosphodiester) ionomer, which is expected to lower the glass transition temperature (Tg), improve electrolyte swelling, and benefit charge transport. Overall, this presentation highlights key design principles for bio-derived aqueous battery materials, offering biocompatible, safe, and non-flammable candidates for next-generation green energy technologies."

Electrochemical counting of Au nanoparticles attached to Pt microelectrodes by Cu deposition and stripping (ACS-Fall 2026) - "Here we report a Pt microelectrode platform that enables controlled deposition and electrochemical quantification of low quantities of Au NPs attached by hydroquinone (HQ)-assisted electrophoretic deposition (EPD)...This initial approach will be extended to bulk deposition for greater amplification and single Au NP detection. Electrodeposition may serve as a viable platform for single particle collisions or attachment as opposed to catalytic amplification."

Green and lean: A validated RP-HPLC-VWD method for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, methylparaben, fluocinolone acetonide, and propylparaben. (PubMed, J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci) - "The RP-HPLC-VWD method for HYQ/MP/FLN/PP achieves an excellent balance between superior analytical performance and practicality, while also revealing a good environmentally sound approach. The accompanying tools complement each other perfectly, with high performance of RAPI (95.0%)/ BAGI (77.5%) highlighting the strengths and acceptable satisfaction level of EPPI (EI = 76.7% and PPI = 55.0%) and Multi-color Assessment platform (MA = 61.1%) and Red-Green-Blue (72.5%) as a whiteness evaluation tool."

Journal

Hydroquinone 1,2-dioxygenase (PnpC1C2): A platform for enzyme engineering for activity towards novel substrates (ACS-Fall 2026) - "Inorg. Chem., 2025, 30, 35-51."