Biofunctional Constituents from Michelia compressa var. lanyuensis with Anti-Melanogenic Properties.

ABSTRACT

Seven compounds were extracted and purified from the roots of Michelia compressa var. lanyuensis. These compounds are liriodenine, (-)-N-acetylanonaine, pressalanine A, p-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, (-)-bornesitol and ß-sitostenone. These compounds were screened for anti-proliferation and anti-tyrosinase activities in B16F10 cells. Liriodenine, pressalanine A, (-)-bornesitol and ß-sitostenone displayed cytotoxicity at high concentration (100 µM), but liriodenine (5 µM), (-)-N-acetylanonaine (10 µM), and ß-sitostenone (5 µM) inhibit tyrosinase activity and reduce the melanin content in B16F10 cells without cytotoxicity, suggesting that liriodenine and ß-sitostenone could be safe and potentially used in cosmetic skin whitening.