{"id":"kojic-acid","rwe":[{"pmid":"41796498","year":"2026","title":"Determination of dissociation constants between single-protein and multicomponents by a multi-chamber membrane separation electrophoresis system as a complementary tool.","finding":"","journal":"Analytica chimica acta","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41764693","year":"2026","title":"Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel Kojic acid-cinnamic acid hybrids as tyrosinase inhibitors.","finding":"","journal":"Molecular diversity","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41746593","year":"2026","title":"Anti-mycobacterial, cytotoxic effects of Penicillium mallochii ethanol extract, and quantitative detection of its extrolites by lc-q-tof-ms/ms.","finding":"","journal":"Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41743871","year":"2025","title":"Phytochemical profiling and enzyme inhibitory activity of Sterculia populifolia DC stem bark extract and fractions against elastase and tyrosinase.","finding":"","journal":"Narra J","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41730464","year":"2026","title":"Double-edged sword: Aspergillus flavus as a threat to food safety and a resource for biotechnology.","finding":"","journal":"Biotechnology advances","studyType":"Clinical Study"}],"tags":[{"label":"kojic acid","category":"class"},{"label":"Small Molecule","category":"modality"},{"label":"D-amino-acid oxidase","category":"target"},{"label":"DAO","category":"gene"},{"label":"TYR","category":"gene"},{"label":"Topical","category":"route"},{"label":"Liquid","category":"form"},{"label":"Active","category":"status"},{"label":"Antioxidants","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Protective Agents","category":"pharmacology"}],"phase":"unknown","safety":{},"trials":[],"aliases":[],"patents":[],"pricing":[],"allNames":"5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4h-pyran-4-one","offLabel":[],"synonyms":["kojic acid","5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4H-pyran-4-one"],"timeline":[],"approvals":[],"brandName":"5-Hydroxy-2-Hydroxymethyl-4H-Pyran-4-One","ecosystem":[],"mechanism":{"target":"D-amino-acid oxidase, Polymerase acidic protein, Tyrosinase","targets":[{"gene":"DAO","source":"DrugCentral","target":"D-amino-acid oxidase","protein":"D-amino-acid oxidase"},{"gene":"TYR","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Tyrosinase","protein":"Tyrosinase"}],"modality":"Small Molecule","drugClass":"kojic acid","explanation":"Think of it like a traffic jam: D-amino-acid oxidase is like a traffic cop that helps break down amino acids. Kojic acid is like a roadblock that prevents the traffic cop from doing its job, which can affect how the body processes certain amino acids.","oneSentence":"Kojic acid works by blocking the enzyme D-amino-acid oxidase, which is involved in the breakdown of certain amino acids.","technicalDetail":"Kojic acid acts as a competitive inhibitor of D-amino-acid oxidase, binding to the enzyme's active site and preventing the oxidation of D-amino acids."},"_wikipedia":{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojic_acid","title":"Kojic acid","extract":"Kojic acid is an organic compound with the formula HOCH2C5H2O2OH. It is a derivative of 4-pyrone that functions in nature as a chelation agent produced by several species of fungus, especially Aspergillus oryzae, which has the Japanese common name koji. Kojic acid is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice, for use in the manufacturing of sake, the Japanese rice wine. It is a mild inhibitor of the formation of pigment in plant and animal tissues, and is used in food and cosmetics to preserve or change colors of substances. It forms a bright red complex with ferric ions."},"commercial":{},"references":[{"id":1,"url":"https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3977","fields":["approvals","synonyms","ATC","PK","indications","contraindications","DDIs","targets","patents","FAERS"],"source":"DrugCentral"},{"id":2,"url":"https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?intr=kojic%20acid","fields":["trials"],"source":"ClinicalTrials.gov"},{"id":3,"url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=kojic acid","fields":["publications"],"source":"PubMed/NCBI"},{"id":4,"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojic_acid","fields":["history","overview"],"source":"Wikipedia"}],"_enrichedAt":"2026-03-30T12:13:25.238775","biosimilars":[],"competitors":[{"drugName":"arbutin","drugSlug":"arbutin","fdaApproval":"","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"ascorbic acid","drugSlug":"ascorbic-acid","fdaApproval":"","genericCount":1,"patentStatus":"Off-patent — generic available","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"avobenzone","drugSlug":"avobenzone","fdaApproval":"1992-12-07","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"hexylresorcinol","drugSlug":"hexylresorcinol","fdaApproval":"","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"mequinol","drugSlug":"mequinol","fdaApproval":"1999-12-10","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"monobenzone","drugSlug":"monobenzone","fdaApproval":"1952-11-10","patentStatus":"Unknown","relationship":"same-target"}],"dataSources":[{"url":"https://drugcentral.org","name":"DrugCentral","fields":["indications","contraindications","safety","target","drugInteractions"],"retrievedDate":"2026-04-07"}],"genericName":"kojic acid","indications":{"approved":[],"offLabel":[],"pipeline":[]},"drugCategory":"active","labelChanges":[],"relatedDrugs":[{"drugId":"arbutin","brandName":"arbutin","genericName":"arbutin","approvalYear":"","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"ascorbic-acid","brandName":"ascorbic acid","genericName":"ascorbic acid","approvalYear":"","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"avobenzone","brandName":"avobenzone","genericName":"avobenzone","approvalYear":"1992","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"hexylresorcinol","brandName":"hexylresorcinol","genericName":"hexylresorcinol","approvalYear":"","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"mequinol","brandName":"mequinol","genericName":"mequinol","approvalYear":"1999","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"monobenzone","brandName":"monobenzone","genericName":"monobenzone","approvalYear":"1952","relationship":"same-target"}],"trialDetails":[{"nctId":"NCT06174545","phase":"NA","title":"Effectiveness and Safety of Pigment Solution Program (PSP) as Adjuvant Therapy in Melasma","status":"UNKNOWN","sponsor":"Dr.dr.Irma Bernadette, SpKK (K)","startDate":"2023-09-25","conditions":["Melasma"],"enrollment":33,"completionDate":"2023-12-31"},{"nctId":"NCT06153134","phase":"EARLY_PHASE1","title":"Curcuma Xanthorriza Roxb. 10% Cream for Melasma","status":"UNKNOWN","sponsor":"Universitas Padjadjaran","startDate":"2023-12-22","conditions":["Melasma"],"enrollment":15,"completionDate":"2024-05-22"},{"nctId":"NCT03826277","phase":"NA","title":"Efficacy of Melanostop Peeling for Improvement of Melasma","status":"UNKNOWN","sponsor":"VIST - Faculty of Applied Sciences","startDate":"2019-02-01","conditions":["Melasma"],"enrollment":10,"completionDate":"2024-12"}],"genericFilers":[],"latestUpdates":[],"manufacturing":[],"administration":{"route":"Topical","formulation":"Liquid","formulations":[{"form":"LIQUID","route":"TOPICAL","productName":"AnubisMed"}]},"crossReferences":{"MMSL":"NOCODE","NDDF":"007822","UNII":"6K23F1TT52","CHEBI":"CHEBI:43572","RXNORM":"1426451","UMLSCUI":"C0064401","ChEMBL_ID":"CHEMBL287556","DRUGBANK_ID":"DB01759","PDB_CHEM_ID":"KOJ","PUBCHEM_CID":"3840","MESH_SUPPLEMENTAL_RECORD_UI":"C011890"},"formularyStatus":[],"_enricherVersion":"v2","developmentCodes":[],"ownershipHistory":[],"publicationCount":1465,"therapeuticAreas":["Other"],"biosimilarFilings":[],"recentPublications":[{"date":"2026 May 1","pmid":"41796498","title":"Determination of dissociation constants between single-protein and multicomponents by a multi-chamber membrane separation electrophoresis system as a complementary tool.","journal":"Analytica chimica acta"},{"date":"2026 Mar 1","pmid":"41764693","title":"Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel Kojic acid-cinnamic acid hybrids as tyrosinase inhibitors.","journal":"Molecular diversity"},{"date":"2026 Feb 26","pmid":"41746593","title":"Anti-mycobacterial, cytotoxic effects of Penicillium mallochii ethanol extract, and quantitative detection of its extrolites by lc-q-tof-ms/ms.","journal":"Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]"},{"date":"2025 Dec","pmid":"41743871","title":"Phytochemical profiling and enzyme inhibitory activity of Sterculia populifolia DC stem bark extract and fractions against elastase and tyrosinase.","journal":"Narra J"},{"date":"2026 Feb 21","pmid":"41730464","title":"Double-edged sword: Aspergillus flavus as a threat to food safety and a resource for biotechnology.","journal":"Biotechnology advances"}],"companionDiagnostics":[],"genericManufacturerList":[],"status":"active","companyName":"","companyId":"unknown","modality":"Small Molecule","firstApprovalDate":"","aiSummary":"Kojic acid is a small molecule drug that targets D-amino-acid oxidase. It is classified as a kojic acid and its mechanism of action involves inhibiting the enzyme D-amino-acid oxidase. However, there is limited information available on its commercial status, approved indications, and pharmacokinetic properties. Further research is needed to fully understand its potential as a therapeutic agent. As a result, its clinical use and safety profile remain unclear.","enrichmentLevel":3,"visitCount":0,"trialStats":{"total":0,"withResults":0},"verificationStatus":"partial","dataCompleteness":{"mechanism":true,"indications":false,"safety":false,"trials":true,"score":2}}