title: Identification of tyrosinase inhibitors from Glycyrrhiza uralensis.
abstract: Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in the production of melanins. Phytochemical studies of a Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract were performed by measuring the tyrosinase and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity. Glycyrrhisoflavone and glyasperin C were identified as tyrosinase inhibitors for the first time. Glyasperin C showed a stronger tyrosinase inhibitory activity (IC (50) = 0.13 +/- 0.01 microg/mL) than glabridin (IC (50) = 0.25 +/- 0.01 microg/mL) and a moderate inhibition of melanin production (17.65 +/- 8.8 % at 5 microg/mL). Glycyrrhisoflavone showed a strong melanin synthesis inhibitory activity (63.73 +/- 6.8 % inhibition at 5 microg/mL). These results suggest that glyasperin C and glycyrrhisoflavone could be promising candidates in the design of skin-whitening agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seon Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Byeong-gon
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029882:Glycyrrhiza uralensis; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase