Highly Potent Inhibition of Tyrosinase by Mulberrosides and the Inhibitory Mechanism in Vitro

Abstract Many stilbene glycosides can alleviate skin hyperpigmentation due to their inhibitory effect on tyrosinase. Mulberrosides in Morus alba L. are stilbene glycosides. In the present study, the inhibition of tyrosinase by five mulberrosides (S1–5), isolated from Morus alba L. was investigated and compared, and the inhibitory mechanism was explored. These five mulberrosides exhibited obvious inhibitory effects on tyrosinase only in a concentration‐dependent manner, without time‐dependence, indicating that they are reversible inhibitors of tyrosinase. S2, S1 and S5 inhibited tyrosinase activity with IC 50 values of 28.93, 75.94 and 151.72 μM, respectively, and were more active than kojic acid (IC 50 =169.13 μM). Kinetic studies revealed that S1, S2 and S4 were competitive inhibitors, while S3 and S5 were mixed inhibitors. Analysis of the fluorescent spectra showed that mulberrosides S1, S2 and S4 quenched the intrinsic fluorescence intensity of tyrosinase. A molecular docking study indicated that the interaction of tyrosinase with mulberrosides was reflected by compound scores as follows: S2>S5>S1>S3/S4>kojic acid, and hydroxy groups in the side chain of mulberrosides may play a crucial role in the binding of the enzyme. Our results suggest that mulberrosides in Morus alba L. could be further developed as whitening agents for enhanced performance against hyperpigmentation.