The Efficacy of Apple Mint Extract as a Nutraceutical Supplement for Skin Brightening: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study

Exposure to environmental stressors, such as UV radiation, pollution, and thermal stress, can lead to skin hyperpigmentation, resulting in uneven skin tone and dark spots. Nutraceutical skin lightening treatments have become a topic of increasing interest as individuals aim to reduce skin hyperpigmentation, particularly the use of botanical extracts. The current study investigated the potential of apple mint extract as a natural skinbrightening solution. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the extract stimulates genes involved in cellular stress response, including superoxide dismutase 3, and inhibits melanin synthesis in human melanocytes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 110 healthy female subjects showed that oral supplementation with apple mint powder significantly increased skin lightness, improved skin tone evenness, and reduced melanin variation after 84 days. These findings suggest that apple mint extract may be an effective and safe natural ingredient for skin brightening and depigmentation, offering a promising alternative to synthetic skin-lightening agents.