Application of kojic acid scaffold in the design of non‐tyrosinase enzyme inhibitors

Abstract

Kojic acid (KA) is a hydroxypyranone natural metabolite mainly known as tyrosinase inhibitor. Currently, this compound is used as a whitening agent in cosmetics and as an anti‐browning agent in food industry. Given the easy‐manipulation in different positions of the KA molecule, many investigations have been carried out to find new tyrosinase inhibitors derived from KA. Beside anti‐tyrosinase activity, many KA‐based compounds have been designed for targeting other enzymes including human neutrophil elastase, catechol‐O‐methyltransferase, matrix metalloproteinases, monoamine oxidase, human lactate dehydrogenase, endonucleases, D‐amino acid oxidase, and receptors such as histamine H3 and apelin (APJ) receptors. This review could help biochemists and medicinal chemists in designing diverse KA‐derived enzyme inhibitors.

Design, synthesis, in vitro, and in silico evaluations of kojic acid derivatives linked to amino pyridine moiety as potent tyrosinase inhibitors

“…2 ) is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor with a UV protector and skin-whitening potencies. Also, some reports about its collagen synthesis enhancer make it an ideal agent in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries [ 20 , 21 ]. However, it demonstrated various side effects, including skin irritation, toxicity, and instability during storage, thus reducing its use in products.…”