Post TLC developing technique for tyrosinase inhibitor detection

Post TLC developing technique was developed to detect substances which can inhibit tyrosinase activity. The method involved spraying the TLC plate or chromatographic paper containing sample spot(s) with tyrosinase and l-tyrosine solutions successively. A positive result could be visualized directly as white spot(s) against a brownish-purple background. The method can either be used as a quick screening method for tyrosinase inhibitor detection or a guiding procedure for an isolation of tyrosinase inhibitors from mixtures or natural product extracts. The technique is sensitive enough to give a clear result in the presence of only 6 ng glabridin.