Potent tyrosinase inhibitors from Trifolium balansae.

Trifolium balansae (Leguminosae) yielded a phytylester, phytyl-1-hexanoate, three steroids, stigmast-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol, stigmast-5-ene-3-ol and campesterol, and an alcohol, pentacosanol which were reported for the first time from T.balansae. The structures of the isolates were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and MS spectroscopy. Compounds 1-5 were tested for their enzyme tyrosinase activity. While compounds 1 and 5 did not show any inhibition against the enzyme tyrosinase, compounds 2, 3, and 4 exhibited potent inhibition against tyrosinase. Highly potent (IC50 = 2.39 microM) inhibition was found by compound 2, when compared with the standard tyrosinase inhibitors Kojic acid and L-mimosine.