Inhibition of tyrosinase activity and melanine pigmentation by 2-hydroxytyrosol

2-Hydroxytyrosol (2-HT), originally reported as a synthetic compound, was isolated for the first time as a fungal metabolite. 2-HT was found to inhibit mushroom tyrosinase with an IC50 value of 13.0 mmol/L. Furthermore, 2-HT dose-dependently inhibited tyrosinase activity (IC50, 32.5 mmol/L) in the cell-free extract of B16 melanoma cells and a-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-stimulated melanin formation in intact B16 melanoma cells. (C) 2014 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.