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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Melanin synthesis inhibitors from Lespedeza floribunda
Maya Mori-Hongo1, Hiroyuki Takimoto, Takayuki Katagiri
1Cutaneous Drug Research Department, POLA Chemical Industries, Inc, Yokohama 244-0812, Japan.
Abstract:
In the course of our search for new melanin synthesis inhibitors from plants, 40 new flavonoids and 11 known flavonoids were isolated from the roots of Lespedeza floribunda Bunge. The structures of the new compounds were determined by MS and NMR analyses, and the absolute configurations by CD spectra. Many of the compounds inhibited melanin synthesis in normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEM), and compounds 3, 7, 8, 11, 16, 24, 27, 29, 33, 43, 45, and 51 were particularly inhibitory. Their activities were stronger than that of hydroquinone, which is known as a major skin-lightening drug.
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