Excessive UV radiation (UVR) exposure has been shown
in studies to be a major risk factor for most melanomas, causing premature
skin aging as well as immune system suppression due to the increased
production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and other
reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the melanogenesis process. Although
several compounds with antioxidant and antityrosinase activities are
widely used in the cosmetic industry, like kojic acid, hydroquinone,
ascorbic acid, and arbutin, their use has been limited due to their
adverse effects on the skin and cytotoxic issues. Recently, attempts
have been made to develop new natural skin-lightening products by
using plant extracts that are less toxic and exhibit numerous biological
properties with great market demand. In this study, information on
the depigmentation effects of various natural plant species was gathered
from the SCOPUS database according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total
of 414 records were retrieved, and finally, 76 articles were included
in the qualitative synthesis by fulfilling all the inclusion criteria.
In this review, we discuss the extraction methods and biological assays
of 75 highly potential plant species, including the olive, yuzu, longan,
and lotus. We concluded that the use of natural plants as skin-whitening
agents is highly effective as there is a significant correlation between
the content of polyphenolic compounds, antimelanogenesis, antityrosinase,
and antioxidant activities. However, it is worth noting that the use
of extraction methods or types of solvents is very important in determining
the biological activities of plants.