ABSTRACT
The anti-melanogenic activity of 259 actinomycete strains was tested, and based on the results for the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity and the reduction in melanin content, Micromonospora sp. JCS1 and JCS7 were selected as the strains with the highest anti-melanogenic potential. The activity-guided fractionation of extracts from JCS1 and JCS7 led to the isolation of the dipeptides cyclo(L-Phenyl alanine (Phe)-L-Proline (Pro)) (1) and cyclo(L-Tryptophan (Trp)-L-Proline (Pro)) (2). These two compounds were tested for their inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by monitoring L-DOPA levels and melanin production. Cyclo(L-Phe-L-Pro) (1) and cyclo(L-Trp-L-Pro) (2) were thus confirmed to have the potential for use in functional whitening cosmetics containing actinomycete-derived secondary metabolites.