Suppression of advanced glycation end products formation and inhibition of tyrosinase activity by 30 essential oils

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of 30 widely used aromatherapeutic essential oils on advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation and tyrosinase activity to elucidate their novel functions related to skin health and beauty. We observed that rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) oil had an inhibitory effect on AGE formation (IC₅₀ value: 124 µg/mL), suggesting its antiaging potential. In addition, we found that melissa (Melissa officinalis) oil had an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀ value: 276 µg/mL), indicating that it could be used as a suppressor of melanin production. These findings indicate that both rosemary and melissa oils might serve as promising functional essential oils in the field of cosmetics and/or functional foods.