Pharmacological activity of compounds extracted from persimmon peel (Diospyros kaki THUNB.).

Persimmon peels (Diospyros kaki THUNB.) are discarded during the production of dried fruit. The 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (8) which is component of persimmon peel had high antioxidant activity on the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and SOD (superoxide dismutase) assay. And (8) had higher tyrosinase inhibiting activity than that of arbutin using both L-tyrosine and L-DOPA as substrates. In addition, tyrosinase inhibiting activity of synthesized 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol glycoside (8a) was studied. (8a) had tyrosinase inhibiting activity, suggesting that (8a) has possibilities for ingredient of cosmetics that are possessed of whitening effect.