Antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor from Leucaena leucocephala

Abstract

The experimental design is divided into two parts: chemical analysis and bioactive assay. One antioxidant lupeol (4) and one inhibition of tyrosinase pheophorbide a methyl ester (7) were identified in Leucaena leucocephala. Both showed effective 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity compared with vitamin C, and mushroom tyrosinase compared with kojic acid. These results suggest that these constituents of L. leucocephala act as natural antioxidants and play a potential role in prevention of pigmentation.

Keywords: Leucaenana leucocephala, lupeol, pheophorbide a methyl ester, antioxidant, mushroom tyrosinase