title: Identification of geranic acid, a tyrosinase inhibitor in lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus).
abstract: Lemongrass is a popular Asian herb having a lemon-like flavor. Very recently, potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity has been found in lemongrass in addition to various biological activities reported in the literature. The aim of the present study is to identify the active compounds in the lemongrass. An assay-guided purification revealed that one of the active substances was geranic acid. Geranic acid has two stereoisomers, which are responsible for the trans and cis geometry on the conjugated double bond. Both isomers are present in the active ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the lemongrass, and their IC50 values were calculated to be 0.14 and 2.3 mM, respectively. The structure requirement of geranic acid for the potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated using geranic acid-related compounds.
authors: Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan. masuda@ias.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors: Toshiya
authors: T
authors: Masuda
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Odaka
authors: Natsuko
authors: N
authors: Ogawa
authors: Katsuo
authors: K
authors: Nakamoto
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Kuninaga
mesh_terms: D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013729:Terpenes; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; C043081:decaprenoic acid