Abstract

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme, which is widely distributed in animals, plants and microorganisms. The enzymes showed considerable structural similarity independent to the kingdom they belong. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis, involved in determining the color of mammalian skin and hair. Increased activity of the enzyme can lead to hyperpigmentation resulting in distressing aesthetic values. The inadequacy of current conventional methods to inhibit tyrosinase activity safely encourages the need to seek new potent tyrosinase inhibitors in cosmetic and therapeutic applications. In the current study we report the effectiveness of hot water extract of Pterocarpus santalinus bark against the melanin producing system of Bacillus cereus. The extract had shown to inhibit melanin production in bacteria dose dependently. Therefore, our results suggested that P. santalinus extract possesses antimelanogenic/antityrosinase activity, which could be utilized as a safe depigmentation agent.