Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of a Glucosylated Hydroxystilbene in Mouse Melan-a Melanocytes

2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), isolated from Polygonum multiflorum, is a noncompetitive inhibitor of tyrosinase in cell-free kinetics; it reduced the Vmax values in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 1 inhibited PKA-induced melanogenesis, reduced the protein expression of tyrosinase and its transcription factor, the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, and lowered the complex formation between tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1). Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed no association of tyrosinase with the endoplasmic reticulum or lysosomes, implying the absence of a direct effect of 1 on the maturation process of the enzyme. The antimelanogenic activity of 1 is likely mediated through a noncompetitive inhibition on tyrosinase, down-regulation of the expression of melanogenic proteins, and reduction of tyrosinase/TRP-1 complex formation.