Abstract
Tyrosinase is an enzyme which catalyzes an enzymatic browning of some foods and in vivo synthesis of melanin. In order to produce natural and edible inhibitor of the enzyme which is expected to have whitening effect on melanogenesis, a microorganism was selected from fermented foods. It was named as NU-7, and cultured in mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Shiitake) media. Optimal media to produce tyrosinase inhibitor was formulated by varing nitrogen or carbon content. If glucose content was in a range of 3-20% and ammonium sulfate was in a range of 0-0.25%, production of inhibitor was independent of cell mass. Addition of ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source had little effect on inhibitor production. Production of inhibitor (Y) was proportionally related to shiitake content (X) with a regression equation of Y= -0.96X$^{2}$ + 13.07X + 14.43 (R = 0.96). These results indicate that shiitake and glucose are necessary for the production of tyrosinase inhibitor. In the analysis of mycotoxin in culture broth, aflatoxin was not detected, suggesting that it would be probably edible.