Magister Scientiae - MSc / Various dermatological disorders, such as formation of black pigmented patches on the surface of the skin arise from the over-activity of tyrosinase enzyme's degenerative action. This enzyme is further implicated in the involvement of melanin in malignant melanoma, the most lifethreatening skin tumors. Although, synthetic products were found effective to combat this menace, nevertheless, overtime detrimental effect on human skin is a challenge. Investigation of natural tyrosinase inhibitors from methanol extracts of medicinal plants of Lamiaceae family using L-tyrosine as substrate on three different complementary assays (TLC bio-autography, spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry) was carried out accordingly. The result indicated Salvia chamelaeagnea, Salvia dolomitica, Plectranthus ecklonii, Plectranthus namaensis, and Plectranthus zuluensis, with significant zone of inhibition against tyrosinase on TLC bio-autography, spectrophotometry result showed that extracts of Plectranthus ecklonii (IC50 = 21.58 μg/mL), Plectranthus zuluensis (IC50 = 23.99 μg/mL), Plectranthus madagascariensis (IC50 = 23.99 μg/mL) and Salvia lanceolata (IC50 = 28.83) demonstrated good anti-tyrosinase activity when compared with kojic acid (IC50 = 3.607 μg/mL). On the other hand, cyclic voltammetry are in consonant with above results thereby supported the nomination of some of the extracts as strong anti-tyrosinase agents. Salvia chamelaeagnea showed strong activity in cyclic voltammetry and clear zone of inhibition on TLC bioautography, these reasons gave us justification for further chemical study to isolate the bioactive constituents. Phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extract of Salvia chamelaeagnea using different chromatographic methods including column chromatographic and semi preparative HPLC afforded six (6) known compounds viz carsonol (C1), carnosic acid (C2), 7- ethoxylrosmanol (C3), ursolic acid (C4), rosmanol (C5) and ladanein (C6). Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of spectroscopic (1H and 13C NMR) data as well as correlations with existing literature. The methanolic extract of S. chamelaeagnea (SC) showed moderate antityrosinase (IC50 = 267.4 μg/mL) activity, total antioxidant capacities measured as: Oxygen radicals absorbance capacity (ORAC; 14970 ± 5.16 μM TE/g), ferric-ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; 9869.43 ± 7.87 μM AAE/g) and trolox equivalent absorbance capacity (TEAC; 13706.5 ± 0.95 μM TE/g). Excellent total antioxidant capacities were demonstrated by C1 and C5 respectively as FRAP (9338.92 ± 1.72; 8622.73 ± 1.92) μM AAE/g; TEAC (16505 ± 0.86; 10641.5 ± 0.52) μM TE/g; ORAC (14550.5 ± 3.65; 14633.90 ± 3.84) μM TE/g and including the inhibition of Fe2+ -induced lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 32.5; 30.25) μg/mL. All the compounds except C4 are electro-active with well-defined oxidation-reduction peaks while C1 demonstrated the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity by strongly decreased the inhibition current with time using cyclic voltammetry method. The isolated compounds especially C1, C2 and C5 are well known to combat with ageing problems and documented for their powerful activity against oxidative stress and alzheimer's diseases, which are ageing related symptoms. The isolation of such bioactive compounds indicated the synergetic effect of the results of the three methods used in this thesis. This is the first report on the evaluation of both anti-tyrosinase and total antioxidant capacities of the isolated compounds from S. chamelaeagnea. The findings therefore can be used as background information for exploitation of skin depigmentation and antioxidant agents from natural source.

Problemas dermatológicos relacionados com a pigmentação resultam em hiperpigmentações ou hipopigmentação cutâneas. Produtos cosméticos e farmacêuticos com atividade despigmentantes são utilizados para o tratamento de pacientes que apresentam distúrbios de hiperpigmentação. Os despigmentantes atualmente utilizados não são totalmente eficazes ou seguros, razão pela qual há intensa pesquisa, principalmente em países asiáticos, com a finalidade de se obter novos agentes com esta ação, em especial, inibidores de enzimas envolvidas na melanogênese como a tirosinase. Considerando-se que algumas substâncias obtidas de plantas apresentam essa atividade, a flora brasileira constitui-se uma fonte potencial de obtenção de novos despigmentantes. No presente trabalho, 24 extratos aquosos e 23 extratos orgânicos de plantas da Floresta Amazônica, 01 aquoso e 01 orgânico da Mata Atlântica, foram avaliados quanto à inibição da tirosinase, pelo método enzimático, com leitura espectrofotométrica. Do total de 49 extratos testados, 09 mostraram atividade. Estes extratos foram retestados e os valores de concentração da atividade inibitória 50%(AI 50%), determinados. O mais ativo foi o extrato orgânico de Ruprechtia sp com AI 50% de 33,76µg/mL, seguido do extrato orgânico de Rapanea parviflora com AI 50% de 64,19µg/mL. / Dermatological disorders related to pigmentation result in cutaneous hyperpigmentation or hipopigmentation. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical products with despigmentant activity are used for the treatment of patients who have hyperpigmentation disorders. Nowadays, skin whitening agents are not to tally effective and safe, reason for intense researches in order to obtain new agents with action especially ones which inhibit enzymes involved in melanogenesis like tirosinase, mainly in Asian countries. Since some substances from plants have this activity, the flora of Brazil is a potential source of new skin whitening agents. In this study 24 aqueous extracts and 23 organic ones of plants from Amazonian region, and 1 aqueous extracts and 1 organic extract from Atlantic Forest were tested to inhibition of tirosinase using enzymatic method with photometric reader. Out of the 49 tested extracts, 9 showed activity in the screening. These extracts were tested again and 50% tyrosinase inhibitory activity concentration (IA 50%) was calculated. The most activite of them was the organic extract of Ruprechtia sp with IA 50% 33,76µg/mL and the organic extract of Rapanea parviflora with IA 50% 64,19µg/mL.

Problemas dermatológicos relacionados com a pigmentação resultam em hiperpigmentações ou hipopigmentação cutâneas. Produtos cosméticos e farmacêuticos com atividade despigmentantes são utilizados para o tratamento de pacientes que apresentam distúrbios de hiperpigmentação. Os despigmentantes atualmente utilizados não são totalmente eficazes ou seguros, razão pela qual há intensa pesquisa, principalmente em países asiáticos, com a finalidade de se obter novos agentes com esta ação, em especial, inibidores de enzimas envolvidas na melanogênese como a tirosinase. Considerando-se que algumas substâncias obtidas de plantas apresentam essa atividade, a flora brasileira constitui-se uma fonte potencial de obtenção de novos despigmentantes. No presente trabalho, 24 extratos aquosos e 23 extratos orgânicos de plantas da Floresta Amazônica, 01 aquoso e 01 orgânico da Mata Atlântica, foram avaliados quanto à inibição da tirosinase, pelo método enzimático, com leitura espectrofotométrica. Do total de 49 extratos testados, 09 mostraram atividade. Estes extratos foram retestados e os valores de concentração da atividade inibitória 50%(AI 50%), determinados. O mais ativo foi o extrato orgânico de Ruprechtia sp com AI 50% de 33,76µg/mL, seguido do extrato orgânico de Rapanea parviflora com AI 50% de 64,19µg/mL. / Dermatological disorders related to pigmentation result in cutaneous hyperpigmentation or hipopigmentation. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical products with despigmentant activity are used for the treatment of patients who have hyperpigmentation disorders. Nowadays, skin whitening agents are not to tally effective and safe, reason for intense researches in order to obtain new agents with action especially ones which inhibit enzymes involved in melanogenesis like tirosinase, mainly in Asian countries. Since some substances from plants have this activity, the flora of Brazil is a potential source of new skin whitening agents. In this study 24 aqueous extracts and 23 organic ones of plants from Amazonian region, and 1 aqueous extracts and 1 organic extract from Atlantic Forest were tested to inhibition of tirosinase using enzymatic method with photometric reader. Out of the 49 tested extracts, 9 showed activity in the screening. These extracts were tested again and 50% tyrosinase inhibitory activity concentration (IA 50%) was calculated. The most activite of them was the organic extract of Ruprechtia sp with IA 50% 33,76µg/mL and the organic extract of Rapanea parviflora with IA 50% 64,19µg/mL.