• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2006

In order to develop hydroquinone analogues for topical delivery, a structure-activity relationship study has been performed. A series of 2-substituted hydroquinones were tested for their ability to inhibit mushroom tyrosinase, alter melanin release and exert cytotoxicity in B6-F10 melanocytes. The electronic property of the 2-substituents did not affect the tyrosinase inhibition nor melanocyte toxicity. However, lipophilicity did affect to some degree the tyrosinase inhibition. The discrepancy in the structure-activity relationship may be due to the poor aqueous solubility of select analogues. Compounds with steric bulk at the 2-position seems to be less soluble, not enabling the analogue to interact effectively with the tyrosinase enzyme. Among the analogues tested, 2-isopropyl hydroquinone seems to be the most promising candidate for topical delivery, being the least toxic analogue with moderate melanin release inhibition.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 1991

Neurospora crassa (KCTC 6079) produces tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) during sexual differentiation under derepressed conditions in the presence of inducers such as amino acid analogues, antimetabolites or protein synthesis inhibitors. The selection of inducer concentration and induction time as well as inducer type are critical for the optimization of the enzyme production. The best inducer was found to be cycloheximide. Since cycloheximide was toxic to the cells, an optimal inducer concentration and an optimal induction time were determined to maximize the enzyme production from batch cultures. Mathematical models for the cell growth and the enzyme production were proposed and used for process optimization. By optimizing the induction conditions, maximum tyrosinase productivity was increased significantly.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-7
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate tyrosinase inhibitory activity of plant for extracts for cosmetic use. When 80 plant extracts were tested, the methanol extracts of Allium thunbergi, Asparagus oligoclonos, Ixeris dentate, Salvia plebeia, Sophora flavescens and Sophora japonica showed more than 30% inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Although less active than the reference compound, kojic acid ($IC_{50}$=7.0-16.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL), these plant extracts may be used as tyrosinase inhibitors in cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.33-39
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• 2003

Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra by the tyrosinase inhibitory activity guided fractionation, and their structures were identified as liquiritigenin (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), isoliquiritigenin-2'-O-methyl ether (3), liquiritin (4), isoliquiritin (5), ononin (6), glycycoumarin (7), glycyrol (8) by analysis of spectral data. Compound 3 exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity ($IC_{50}$, 47 M).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.736-741
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• 2000

The abilities of petroleum ether-extracts prepared from 75 plants to inhibit tyrosinase activity were evaluated in reverse micelles composed of isooctane/AOT(100 mM)/phosphate buffer(20 mM, pH 8.0) containing tyrosinase(105.3 units/mL) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine(0.18 mM). Compared with control which has no plant extracts, garlic could completely inhibit in vitro melanogenesis by tyrosinase, and Chinese quince, sweet potato, onion, radish bud and apple did more than 60%. Lipophilic extracts of medicinal plants and herbs such as rosemary, coriander, cinnamomi ramulus, crataegii fructus, ramulus biotae folium, mume fructus, menthae herba, eucommiae cortex and clove also inhibited tyrosinase activity more than 60%. When the extraction yield of lipophilic materials was considered together with their inhibition effect on tyrosinase, it was possible to select plants of which tyrosinase inhibitors could be produced in high quantity from unit weight. Using reverse micelles, the analysis of the capacity of lipophilic materials to inhibit tyrosinase activity which was difficult up to present could be possible.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1319-1325
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• 2010

Tyrosinase ubiquitously existing from microorganisms to animals and plants is known to be the most critical and rate limiting enzyme during melanin biosynthesis. In order to develop new tyrosinase inhibitor we have synthesized 14 diphenyl ether compounds possessing hydroxyl, bromo, and nitro groups in the structure. Among the compounds prepared, 18 and 19 have shown much stronger inhibition of tyrosinase monophenolase function than arbutin used as a positive control. Both compounds 18 and 19 possess para-hydroxyphenyl moiety in their structure, which might reinforce the importance of p-hydroxyphenyl group in the tyrosinase inhibitory process. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity test, none of the compounds even 18 and 19 showed significant antioxidant activity. The results suggest that elaborate adjustment of diphenyl ether analogues with proper substituents have potential to be developed as new skin whitening agents working on the tyrosinase function.

• Korean Journal of Korean Medical Institute of Dermatology and Aesthetics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

(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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.454-460
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• 2000

It is difficult to accurately evaluate the effect of lipophilic compounds in aqueous reaction system of enzymes because they are immiscible with water. To screen lipophilic inhibitors of tyrosinase which catalyzes the synthesis of melanin in vivo, an optically clear organic system composed of organic solvent, surfactant, and water, often called reverse micelles(RM), was introduced. Optimal RM to let tyrosinase act normally was composed of isooctane as an organic solvent and dioctyl sulfosuccinate(AOT) of 100 mM as a surfactant. When a molar ratio of water to surfactant was 15, tyrosinase(105.3 units) in RM showed a similar reactivity toward 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine(0.18 mM) as in the aqueous assay system. In the presence of cinnamic acid, the product formation of tyrosinase reaction was proportional to the reaction time. This indicates that the inhibitory effect of lipophilic compounds could be analyzed in RM.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.618-622
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• 2017

Various bioactive substances are found in Loranthus tanakae, including quercetin 3-rhamnoside (1), kaempferol 3-rhamnoside (2), rhamnetin 3-rhamnoside (3), and rhamnocitrin 3-rhamnoside (4), which inhibit tyrosinase. These compounds are mainly found in the EtOAc fraction of L. tanakae extract and demonstrate higher rates of tyrosinase inhibition than ascorbic acid, which was used as a control. Our results suggest that L. tanakae extracts can be utilized in skin whitening cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-242
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• 1998

We have tested tyrosinase inhibitory activity on the methanol extracts of 23 species marine algae and 23 species traditional medicinal plant. Among them, four medicinal plants, Ephedra sinica, Atractylodes japonica, Pinnelia ternata, and Citrus aurantium, showed strong inhibition potency over 90% at concentration of 0.33 mg/mL. Also, two marine algae, Enteromorpha compressa and Sargassum singgildianum showed mild inhibition potency over 50% at concentration of 0.33 mg/mL.