Inhibitory Activity of Medicinal Plant Extracts against Tyrosinase

약용식물 추출물의 Tyrosinase 억제 활성

  • Na, Min-Kyun (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)) ;
  • Choi, Seung-Youl (Jakwang Research Institute, Han Kook Sin Yak Co., Ltd) ;
  • Kim, Dong-Hee (Jakwang Research Institute, Han Kook Sin Yak Co., Ltd) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Pyo (Jakwang Research Institute, Han Kook Sin Yak Co., Ltd) ;
  • Lee, Chan-Bok (Jakwang Research Institute, Han Kook Sin Yak Co., Ltd) ;
  • Kim, Kyung-Dong (Hansaeng Natiural Cosmetics Co., Ltd)
  • Published : 2005.04.10

Abstract

(1) Objectives: To discover natural skin-lightening agents, we have evaluated the inhibitory activity of EtOH extracts from 20 medicinal plants against mushroom tyrosinase. (2) Methods: Tyrosinase activity was determined by the dopachrome method using L-tyrosine as the substrates. (3) Results: Of the plant extracts tested, the extracts of 4 plants, Albizzia julibrissin, Curcuma longa, Anethum graveolens and Sophora flavescens, exhibited potent inhibitory activity (> 50%) in mushroom tyrosinase assay. Four plant extract, extracts of Agrimonia pilosa, Paeonia moutan, Magnolia obovata and Eugenia caryophyllata also showed relatively strong inhibitory (> 40%) against mushroom tyrosinase. (4) Conclusion: These active medicinal plants may be useful for the development of skin-whitening agents. Since the active medicinal plants may contain effective tyrosinase inhibitors even more than kojic acid, further study to identify the active constituents from the plants is expected.

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