Screening of Some Tropical Vegetables for Anti-tyrosinase Activity

Abstract

Various tropical vegetables have been known for their anti-tyrosinase activity which could be potentially prepared for skinwhitening or anti-browning preparations. This study aimed to test anti-tyrosinase activity in 16 tropical vegetables from 10 families using mushroom tyrosinase inhibition method. Each plant was extracted with four solvents including hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and 50% propylene glycol. The results showed that 2 plant extracts, Momordica charantia in methanol and Raphanus sativus in 50% propylene glycol, exerted a considerable level of in vitro mushroom tyrosinase inhibition (78.98% and 88% respectively) compared to positive controls of kojic acid in the same solvent systems (65% inhibition in methanol and 82% inhibition in 50% propylene glycol). Further study is needed to identify phytochemical compounds with anti-tyrosinase activity in Momordica charantia and Raphanus sativus.