title: Inhibitory Effects of Physalis alkekengi L., Alcea rosea L., Bunium persicum B. Fedtsch. and Marrubium vulgare L. on Mushroom Tyrosinase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The key enzyme in the process of melanin biosynthesis is tyrosinase. Skin hyperpigmentation and browning of foods are undesirable phenomena which tyrosinase represents. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have been used increasingly for medicinal and cosmetic products.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, inhibitory effects of four plants including: physalis alkekengi L., Alcea rosea L., Bunium persicum B. Fedtsch. and Marrubium vulgare L. on diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inhibitory activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of plants against oxidation of L-Dopa (as a substrate) by mushroom tyrosinase were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hydroalcoholic extract of P. alkekengi showed the most tyrosinase inhibitory effect with IC50 of 0.09 mg/mL vs. 0.38, 0.38 and 2.82 mg/mL of B. persicum, A. rosea and M. vulgare, respectively. M. vulgare exhibited uncompetitive inhibition and other plants showed mixed type inhibition on mushroom tyrosinase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All plants could inhibit mushroom tyrosinase, but more investigations on human tyrosinase and clinical studies are needed.
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Foroogh
authors: F
authors: Namjoyan
authors: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Jahangiri
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Ebrahim
authors: ME
authors: Azemi
authors: Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Elaheh
authors: E
authors: Arkian
authors: Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors: Hamideh
authors: H
authors: Mousavi
keywords: Hyperpigmentation; Inhibition; Plants; Tyrosinase