Inhibitory effects of active compounds isolated from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds for melanogenesis.

Abstract

In order to develop a new skin whitening agent, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds were evaluated for melanogenesis inhibitory activity and its active principles were identified following activity-guided isolation. The 80% aqueous methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction from safflower seeds showed a significant inhibition for mushroom tyrosinase. Three active compounds, N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, and acacetin, were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction as the active principles. Compared with arbutin (IC50=0.223 mM), the IC50 values of these compounds were 0.023, 0.074, and 0.779 mM for N-feruloylserotonin, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin, and acacetin, respectively. It was also found that N-feruloylserotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin strongly inhibited the melanin production of Streptomyces bikiniensis and B16 melanoma cells in comparison with a known melanogenesis inhibitor, arbutin.

• Authors: Jung Seop Roh, Ji Young Han, Jung Han Kim, Jae Kwan Hwang
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 27 Issue 12 Pg. 1976-8 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15577216 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Melanins
• Plant Extracts
• Monophenol Monooxygenase

Topics

• Animals
• Carthamus tinctorius
• Melanins (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
• Melanoma, Experimental (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Monophenol Monooxygenase (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Seeds