Potential Cosmetic Whitening Agents from Insect Cuticle: Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of N-Acetyldopamine Dimers from Exuviae of Cicada, Cryptotympana tustulata FABR.

Abstract

The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of N-acetyldopamine dimers purified from the exuviae of cicada (Cryptotympana tustulata FABR.) was found in the present study. Isomers, trans-1, trans-2, and a mixture of cis isomers, expressed strong activity comparable to that of arbutin, a typical whitening agent. Trans-1 had the strongest activity, exceeding that of arbutin at 100 μM and was found to function quite well as a cosmetic whitening agent. The inhibition mechanism is discussed.