ArticleViewAbstractPharmacognosy Journal,2015,7,2,97-101.DOI:10.5530/pj.2015.2.3Published:04/2015Type:Original ArticleAnti-Tyrosinase and DPPH Radical Scavenging Activities of Selected Thai Herbal Extracts Traditionally Used as Skin TonerBunleu Sungthong, and Methin Phadungkit Bunleu Sungthong* and Methin Phadungkit Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Natural Products Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai district, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand Abstract:Introduction: Skin darkness may be cosmetically undesirable for some people. Plant-derived materials traditionally used for skin lightening may produce satisfactory results. Besides innate tyrosinase activity, oxidative stress also plays an important role in skin darkness by activating tyrosinase. Therefore, herbal extracts with strong anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities could be considered as efficacious skin lightening agents. The aims of the present study were to determine the anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities of Thai medicinal plant extracts indigenously used as skin toners. Methods: The activities of seven Thai medicinal plants; Zingiber cassumunar Roxb., Phyllanthus emblica Linn., Tagetes erecta Linn., Centella asiatica, Raphanus sativusvar. Longipinnatus Linn., Cassia fistula Linn. and Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. were investigated using the DOPA-chrome method to determine anti-tyrosinase activity and the DPPH free radical scavenging assay to determine antioxidant activity. Results: With respect to tyrosinase inhibitory activity, P. emblica, B. monosperma and R. sativusvar. Longipinnatus extracts at a concentration of 1.67 mg/mL showed strong activities with the percentage of tyrosinase inhibition at 48.38±4.77, 46.92±3.77 and 42.85±6.54%, respectively. In addition, P. emblica and B. monosperma extracts also exhibited high antioxidant activities with the IC50values on 33.47±1.24 and 33.57±1.92 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Based on tyrosinase inhibition activity and DPPH radical scavenging assays, the herbal extracts of P. emblica and B. monosperma show promise as potential skin lighteners in cosmetic formulations. Keywords:anti-tyrosinase inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity, Dopachrome method, DPPH radical scavenging assay, skin lightening, traditional skin tonersView:PDF (335.31 KB) PDF ‹ Effects of standardized stem bark extract of Mangifera indica L. in wistar rats with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-induced haemolytic anaemia up Hepatoprotective effect of Quail egg against carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in albino rats ›