Melanin synthesis inhibitors from olea europeae

Abstract

The aim of this study was to discover more candidates for development of novel anti melanogenesis compounds from leaves of O. europeae. Seventeen compounds have been isolated from the leaves of O. europeae. The isolated compounds were identified as α, β-amyrin mixture (1), β-sitosterol (2), uvaol, erythrodiol mixture (3), oleanolic acid (4), maslinic acid (5), vomifoliol (6), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (7), luteolin (8), oleoside dimethylester (9), oleuropein (10), hydroxypinoresinol 1-O-β-D-glucoside (11), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (12), diosmetin 7-O-β-D-glucoside (13), verbascoside (14), oleoside 11-methylester (15), secoxyloganin (16) and hydroxytyrosol 8-O-β-D-glucoside, hydroxytyrosol 4`-O-β-D-glucoside mixture (17). This is the first report on the identification of vomifoliol (6) in the oleaceae family. Results showed that several compounds other than oleuropein exhibited inhibition of melanin synthesis and at the same time with low cytotoxicity.