Abstract: This review article presents the mechanism of plant extracts’ whitening effect from reduction of melanin formation, keratolytic, natural sunscreens, inhibiting melanin formation at genetic level, reduction of the melanin transference. This article also summarizes the present plant extracts’ whitening agents, such as kojic acid, plant polyphenols, phloretin, vitamin C and derivatives, endothelin antagonists, plant flavonoids, as well as the developmental trend of plant extracts from nanotechnology, compositional formulation and herbal cosmetics in the future.

Key words: plant extracts, whitening, depigmentation, tyrosinase