As reported in the mass media on July 2013, numerous consumers who had used the cosmetic ingredient containing rhododendrol (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol, Trade name; rhododenol), which is a melanin inhibitor isolated from Acer nikoense Maxim, released from Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
Rhododenol or rhododendrol (RD, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol) occurs naturally in many plants along with raspberry ketone (RK, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone), a ketone derivative, which include Nikko maple tree (Acer nikoense) and white birch (Betula platyphylla). De-pigmenting activity of RD was