Insights on the Inhibitory Power of Flavonoids on Tyrosinase Activity: A Survey from 2016 to 2021

Abstract

Tyrosinase is a multifunctional copper-containing oxidase enzyme that initiates melanin synthesis in humans. Excessive accumulation of melanin pigments or the overexpression of tyrosinase may result in skin-related disorders such as aging spots, wrinkles, melasma, freckles, lentigo, ephelides, nevus, browning and melanoma. Nature expresses itself through the plants as a source of phytochemicals with diverse biological properties. Among these bioactive compounds, flavonoids represent a huge natural class with different categories such as flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, flavan-3-ols, flavanones and chalcones that display antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor activities with a diversity of mechanistic approaches. In this review, we explore the role of novel or known flavonoids isolated from different plant species and their participation as tyrosinase inhibitors reported in the last five years from 2016 to 2021. We also discuss the mechanistic approaches through the different studies carried out on these compounds, including in vitro, in vivo and in silico computational research. Information was obtained from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. We hope that the updated comprehensive data presented in this review will help researchers to develop new safe, efficacious, and effective drug or skin care products for the prevention of and/or protection against skin-aging disorders.

Anethole rich Clausena heptaphylla (Roxb.) Wight & Arn., essential oil pharmacology and genotoxic efficiencies

“…According to the report, trans -anethole could be a novel approach towards prevention and treatment of UV-induced melanogenesis. There were some recent publications regarding natural products in management of aging ailments 43 , 44 . But so far there is no such report available regarding C. heptaphylla extract or essential oil.…”

Microbial Transformation and Biological Activities of the Prenylated Aromatic Compounds from Broussonetia kazinoki

“…Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1), also known as catecholase or diphenol oxidase, is a multifunctional copper-containing enzyme and is widely distributed in plants, fungi, bacteria and animals [ 9 , 10 ]. It catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) and the subsequent oxidation of L-DOPA to L-dopaquinone [ 10 ].…”

“…Then, the dopaquinone forms melanin through polymerization with a series of enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions [ 11 , 12 ]. Melanin is responsible for skin color and plays an important role in human skin, for example, the prevention of skin injury under normal physiological conditions [ 12 ]; however, an overproduction and accumulation of melanin can result in hyperpigmentary disorders of the skin, such as freckles, melasma, age spots, and melanoma [ 9 ]. More seriously, tyrosinase catalyzes the formation of neuromelanin, which is associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease [ 10 , 11 , 13 ].…”

“…More seriously, tyrosinase catalyzes the formation of neuromelanin, which is associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease [ 10 , 11 , 13 ]. Therefore, inhibiting tyrosinase activity applies to the treatment of pigmentation disorders associated with melanin hyperpigmentation and some related diseases [ 9 , 14 ]. Though a number of well-known tyrosinase inhibitors, like arbutin, kojic acid, and hydroquinone, have been reported from natural or synthetic sources during the past few decades, their applications have been limited due to serious side effects such as dermatitis, cytotoxicity and hepatotoxicity [ 9 , 14 ].…”

“…Therefore, inhibiting tyrosinase activity applies to the treatment of pigmentation disorders associated with melanin hyperpigmentation and some related diseases [ 9 , 14 ]. Though a number of well-known tyrosinase inhibitors, like arbutin, kojic acid, and hydroquinone, have been reported from natural or synthetic sources during the past few decades, their applications have been limited due to serious side effects such as dermatitis, cytotoxicity and hepatotoxicity [ 9 , 14 ]. Thus, it is desirable to find new tyrosinase inhibitors with improved safety.…”