Mulberroside F isolated from the leaves of Morus alba inhibits melanin biosynthesis.
The current study was carried out to investigate the in vitro effects of an 85% methanol extract of dried Morus alba leaves on melanin biosynthesis, which is closely related to hyperpigmentation. These extracts inhibited the tyrosinase activity that converts dopa to dopachrome in the biosynthetic process of melanin. Mulberroside F (moracin M-6, 3'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), which was obtained after the bioactivity-guided fractionation of the extracts, showed inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity and on the melanin formation of melan-a cells. This compound also exhibited superoxide scavenging activity that is involved in the protection against auto-oxidation. But its activity was low and was weaker than of kojic acid. These results suggest that mulberroside F isolated from mulberry leaves might be used as a skin whitening agent.
Department of Herbal Pharmacology, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Hee
SH
Lee
Sang Yoon
SY
Choi
Hocheol
H
Kim
Jae Sung
JS
Hwang
Byeong Gon
BG
Lee
Jian Jun
JJ
Gao
Sun Yeou
SY
Kim
D000363:Agaricales / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase