Whitening Activity of Phenolic Compounds from Rhizome of Phragmites communis

Activity guided phytochemical examination of the rhizome of Phragmites communis has led to the isolation of two phenolic acids and two lignans. Structures of these compounds were elucidated as methyl gallate (1), ${\rho}$ -hydroxy cinnamic acid (2), (+) -lyoniresinol (3), (+)-lyoniresinol-9'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (4) by comparisons with previously reported spectral data. To investigate the melanogenesis inhibitory effects of these compounds, the melanin level and tyrosinase activity were examined in B16F10 melanoma cell. Each compound inhibited both tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis compared with positive control, kojic acid and arbutin. These results suggest that the phenolic compounds from Phragmites communis might be developed as a potent skin whitenting cosmeceuticals.