Isolation of inhibitory compounds from the Magnoliae Flos on melanin biosynthesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines.

Magnoliae Flos(‘shin-j’). the flower buds of Magnolia kobus, is acrid to taste with a ‘warm’ property. It is a ‘wind-cold’ discutient and nasal decongestant and is principally used in the treatment of nasal congestion with headache, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. By screening inhibitory activities on the melanin polymer biosysthesis in B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines, methylene chloride extract of Magnoliae Flos was found to have inhibitory effect on melanin polymer biosynthesis. (omitted)