The Melanin Biosynthesis Stimulating Compounds Isolated from the Fruiting Bodies of Pleurotus citrinopileatus

Abstract

In the course to find a stimulating compound for melanin biosynthesis, which should be useful for a gray and a white hair-preventive agent or tanning agent, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract from mushroom of Pleurotus citrinopileatus on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells without theophylline. Activity-guided fractionation led to isolate myo-inositol (3) and D-mannitol (4) as the stimulating compounds on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. Also, ergosterol (1), uracil (2), and D-glucose (5) have been isolated from the methanol extract of P. citrinopileatus and showed no effect on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. These results indicated that myo-inositol (3) and D-mannitol (4) are potential candidates that could be useful such as a gray and a white hair-preventive agent or tanning agent.