Melanin synthesis inhibitors from Balanophora fungosa

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Feb 23;59(4):1109-14. doi: 10.1021/jf1035542. Epub 2011 Jan 25.

Abstract

Tyrosinase, trypsin, and tryptase are known to play important roles in melanin production of human skin. This paper describes the study of the inhibitory effect of Balanophora fungosa on melanin. The 50% EtOH extract obtained from B. fungosa indicated an inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity with an IC(50) value of 15 μg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active extract resulted in the isolation of four known compounds. Their structures were identified as 1-O-(E)-caffeoyl-3-O-galloyl-4,6-(S)-HHDP-β-d-glucopyranose (1), 1-O-(E)-caffeoyl-3,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose (2), caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranose (3), and abietin (4) on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comparison of their spectral data with those in the literature. Compounds 1 and 2 prevented pigmentation of melanin in a three-dimensional cultured human skin model. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 indicated inhibitory activities against trypsin and tryptase.

MeSH terms

  • Balanophoraceae / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Melanins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Melanins / biosynthesis*
  • Melanocytes / metabolism
  • Melanoma
  • Models, Biological
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Skin
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Tryptases / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Melanins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase
  • Tryptases