Cinnamomum subavenium

Cinnamomum subavenium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Magnoliids
Order:	Laurales
Family:	Lauraceae
Genus:	Cinnamomum
Species:	C. subavenium
Binomial name
Cinnamomum subavenium Miq.

Cinnamomum subavenium, a Chinese herb, has been suggested for use as a skin whitening agent. The plant contains substances which inhibit production of tyrosinase an enzyme which catalyzes the production of melanin. The herb has not been established as either effective or safe but is being researched by Hui-Min Wang and his colleagues at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan where experiments shown that it was effective at causing Zebrafish to lose their stripes.^[1]

References

1. ^ Bhanoo, Sindya N. (March 28, 2011). "An Herbal Alternative to Creams for Pale Skin". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/science/29obskin.html. Retrieved March 30, 2011.