Effects of selected moraceae plants on tyrosinase enzyme and melanin content

Background: Hyperpigmentation is the one cause of skin disorder. The dark-colored skin causes from the increasing of melanin pigment production. It is synthesized by melanogenesis catalyzed by tyrosinase enzyme. Tyrosinase is one of the main causes of melanogenesis; thus, inhibition of the activity of tyrosinase can decrease melanogenesis. Hence, the potential tyrosinase inhibitor could be discovered from natural products. Objective: Discovery of tyrosinase inhibitor from natural products by focusing on Moraceae plants. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight Moraceae plant extracts were screened for antityrosinase and antibacterial activities; Streblus taxoides and Artocarpus chama were selected to study in B16F1 melanoma cell; intracellular antityrosinase activity and melanin content. Moreover, pigmentation inhibitory effect on the zebrafish of these samples was studied. Results: The extracts of S. taxoides and A. chama showed the potential activity against tyrosinase enzyme on both intracellular and extracellular enzymatic assays. Moreover, they suppressed pigmentation in zebrafish. Only ethyl acetate extract of these plants could show anti-bacterial activity. Conclusion: S. taxoides and A. chama are potential plants for further study of chemical constituents and biological activities especially the anti-tyrosinase activity of the isolated compound to find out the lead compound for whitening agent from natural product.