Artocarpus plants have been a focus of constant attention due to the potential for
skin whitening agents. In the in vitro experiment, compounds from the Artocarpus plants, such as
artocarpanone, norartocarpetin,
artocarpesin,
artogomezianol, andalasin, artocarbene, and
chlorophorin showed
tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Structure-activity investigations revealed that the 4-substituted
resorcinol moiety in these compounds was responsible for their potent inhibitory activities on
tyrosinase. In the in vitro assay, using
B16 melanoma cells, the prenylated
polyphenols isolated from Artocarpus plants, such as
artocarpin,
cudraflavone C,
6-prenylapigenin,
kuwanon C, norartocarpin, albanin A,
cudraflavone B, and brosimone I showed potent inhibitory activity on
melanin formation. Structure-activity investigations revealed that the introduction of an
isoprenoid moiety to a non-
isoprenoid-substituted
polyphenol enhanced the inhibitory activity of
melanin production in
B16 melanoma cells. In the in vivo investigation, the extract of the wood of Artocarpus incisus and a representative isolated compound from it,
artocarpin had a lightening effect on the skin of guinea pigs' backs. Other in vivo experiments using human volunteers have shown that water extract of Artocarpus lakoocha reduced the
melanin formation in the skin of volunteers. These results indicate that the extracts of Artocarpus plants are potential sources for
skin whitening agents.