Anti-tyrosinase properties of different species of turmeric and isolation of active compounds from Curcuma amada

Jesmin Akter,Kensaku Takara,Md Zahorul Islam,Md Amzad Hossain

doi:10.1007/s00044-021-02764-z

Abstract

Turmeric is traditionally used as a skin cosmetic in some religious and cultural occasions on the Indian subcontinent. In this study, we compared the tyrosinase inhibitory properties of four Curcuma spp., namely, C. xanthorrhiza, C. aromatica, C. amada, and C. zedoaria. Bioassay-guided isolation and purification of tyrosinase inhibitors using silica gel column and high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural identification of the compounds was conducted using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. C. amada showed the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 of 53.4 μg/mL. Therefore, it was chosen for the isolation and purification of tyrosinase inhibitors. The purified compounds were zederone (1), furanodienone (2), 1,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-1-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptanes (3), 3,5-dihydroxy-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) heptanes (4) and 1,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-1-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) heptanes (5). The IC50 values for the mushroom anti-tyrosinase activity of compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 108.2, 89.2, 92.3, 21.7, and 41.3 µM, respectively. These compounds also inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity, thus reducing melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Compound 4 showed significantly stronger anti-tyrosinase activity than that of arbutin (a positive control drug). No significant difference was observed in the tyrosinase inhibitory effect between compound 5 and arbutin. Our findings strongly suggest that C. amada is a promising source of natural tyrosinase inhibitors to prevent melanogenesis and could be used as a whitening cosmetic.

Highlights

Melanin is the black pigment in hair and skin and is essential for protecting skin against UV radiation
We evaluated the tyrosinase inhibitory activity and anti-melanogenic effects of purified active compounds on melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells
Curcumin was present in C. xanthorrhiza and C. aromatica but absent in C. zedoaria and C. amada [10]

Summary

Introduction

Melanin is the black pigment in hair and skin and is essential for protecting skin against UV radiation. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity prevents hyperpigmentation and leads to skin whitening It controls the quality of vegetables and fruits by regulating the undesired browning of vegetables and food. Turmeric (family: Zingiberaceae; genus: Curcuma), a traditional medicinal plant that grows predominantly in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa, has a broad spectrum of pharmacological functions It has been traditionally used in prematrimonial rituals for thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent as a skin lightening agent. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of different species of turmeric, namely, C. xanthorrhiza, C. aromatica, C. amada and C. zedoaria, on the tyrosinase enzyme and to identify the specific chemical compounds responsible for antityrosinase activity. We evaluated the tyrosinase inhibitory activity and anti-melanogenic effects of purified active compounds on melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells

Results And Discussion

Conclusion

Materials And Methods