Melanin Biosynthesis Inhibitors from the Tubers of Gastrodia elata

The bioassay-guided fractionation of the methylene chloride soluble portion of a methanol extract of Gastrodia elata tubers led to the isolation of a new furfural, 5-(4-hydroxy-benzyloxymethyl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde (2), together with four known compounds (1, 3-5), which exhibited potent inhibitory activity at the concentration of 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml on melanin biosynthesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cells.