Labdane-type diterpenes, galangalditerpenes A-C, with melanogenesis inhibitory activity from the fruit of Alpinia galanga

Abstract

In our continuing study of biologically active natural products from the fruit of Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae), we newly isolated three new labdane-type diterpenes, termed galangalditerpenes A-C (1-3), along with four known sesquiterpenes (4-7) and two diterpenes (8 and 9). The stereostructures of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic properties. The melanogenesis inhibitory activities in theophylline-stimulated murine B16 melanoma 4A5 cells of these isolates, including the new diterpenes (1-3, IC50 = 4.4, 8.6, and 4.6 μM, respectively), were found to be more than 6-87-fold higher than that of arbutin (174 μM), a commercially available positive control.