Biochemical Study on the Cosmetic Raw Materials. I. Tyrosinase Inhibitory Action

Abstract

Tyrosinase inhibitory action (TIA) of cosmetic raw materials containing cosmetic whitening ingredients was measured as an in vitro screening procedure. Among them, L-ascorbic acid phosphate magnesium salt (VC-PMg) had no TIA. The decomposition of VC-PMg was also examined by acid-phosphatase (Acp), a skin enzyme. Consequently, VC-PMg was hydrolyzed to L-ascorbic acid by pseudo first order reaction. The reaction solution containing L-ascorbic acid had TIA. The whitening effects of several cosmetic raw materials could be compared by the in vitro TIA test.