Coompo Research Chemicals

Its anti-inflammatory activity was examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse J774A.1 macrophages. Trifolirhizin not only dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but also inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, trifolirhizin showed in vitro inhibitory effects on the growth of human A2780 ovarian and H23 lung cancer cells. These results suggest that trifolirhizin possesses potential anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.

Compared with kojic acid (16.22+/-1.71 microM), Trifolirhizin possessed potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC(50) values of 506.77+/-4.94 microM. It was further tested for their inhibitory effects on melanogenesis. In cultured B16 melanoma cells, Trifolirhizin markedly inhibited (>50%) melanin synthesis at 50 microM. This is the first study indicating that Trifolirhizin exert varying degrees of inhibition on tyrosinase-dependent melanin biosynthesis, and therefore, are candidates as skin-whitening agents.