Antityrosinase and antioxidant effects of ent-kaurane diterpenes from leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera.

Three new ent-kaurane type diterpenes, broussonetones A-C (1-3), were isolated from leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera, together with seven known compounds, and their structures determined by 1D and 2D NMR and MS methods. Compounds 1-3 were marginal inhibitors of tyrosinase. Antioxidant assays showed them also to be inhibitors of xanthine oxidase. The mild inhibition of tyrosinase and significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase suggests that 1-3 could be useful ingredients in the development of skin-protecting cosmetics.