Melanin Biosynthesis Inhibitory Activity of Compounds Isolated from Unused Parts of Ammi visinaga 43
mifugin (9) at concentration of 40 μg/mL showed cyto-
toxicity on B16 melenoma cells rather than melanin for-
mation inhibition; β-sitosterol (2) and β-sitosterol gluco-
side (5) had no effect on melanin inhibition.
Previously, khellin was reported to have some biologi-
cal effects such as smooth muscle relaxant [20] and pre-
vention of stone formation associated with hyperoxaluria
[8], while in our study we concluded that khellin (4) is a
promising compound which could be useful for treating
hyperpigmentation, as a skin-whitening agent with less
toxicity even than the standard drug arbutin. To the best
of our knowledge, we obtained this compound from the
waste of A. visinaga which caused a serious problem so
we can get a great beneficial from these waste.
4. Acknowledgements
The Egyptian Government is acknowledged for the fel-
lowship support to Ahmed Adel Ashour. We are thankful
to Dr. Miyamoto for optical rotation measurement.
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