Arbutin content and tyrosinase activity of bergenia extracts

Abstract

The total arbutin content in the leaves of all the studied Bergenia plants (B. crassifolia, B. ciliata and B. x ornata) was determined. The highest values of the arbutin content have been established for B. crassifolia (58.9 ± 0.7 mg.g-1 DW) and B. x ornata (51.0 ± 1.21 mg.g-1 DW), and the lowest for B. ciliata (5.9 ± 0.6 mg.g-1 DW). Arbutin concentration in the Bergenia leaves was the lowest in spring, in the autumn, on the contrary it increased. All the tested aqueous extracts caused a dose-dependent increase in diphenolase activity of fungal tyrosinase in a similar way as arbutin. On the other hand, all the ethanol extracts inhibited the diphenolase activity of tyrosinase.