Inhibitory Effects of Ethanolic Extracts From196Kind of Chinese Herbs on Tyrosinase / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory action of ethanolic extracts from196kinds of Chi-nese herbs on tyrosinase.Methods Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by the dopachrome method using L-DOPA as the substrate and the amount of dopachrome in the reaction mixture was measured by spec-trophotometer.Results Nine Chinese crude extracts[Glycyrrhiza glabra L.,Melaphis chinensis(Bell.)Baker,Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius,Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.,Sophora flavescens Ait.,Spirea thunbegii Sieb.et Bl.,Xanthium sibiricum Patr.,Morus alba L.,Rheum palmatum L.]showed potent inhibitory action on tyrosi-nase compared with positive control arbutin(1mmol/L,P0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that20kinds of crude extracts from Chinese herbs[Glycyrrhiza glabra L.,Melaphis chinensis(Bell.)Baker,Cryptotympana a-trata Fabricius,Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.,Sophora flavescens Ait.,Spirea thunbegii Sieb.et Bl.,Xanthium sibiricum Patr.,Morus alba L.,Rheum palmatum L.,Artemisia anomala S.Moore,Hemistepta lyrata Bunge,Lycium chinensis Mill.,Dipsacus asper wall.,Gastrodia elata Bl.,Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl.,Acer gin-nala Maxim.,Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch,Patrinia sabiosaefolia Fisch.,Buxus sinica(Rehd.et Wils.)Ching,Lonicera japonica Thunb.,]inhibit tyrosinase and may be used as depigmentaty agents for pigmentary skin dis-eases caused by abnormal tyrosinase activity.