Melanogenesis inhibitory effect of dehydroevodiamine isolated from fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Evodia rutaecarpa</Emphasis>

Dehydroevodiamine, an alkaloid, was isolated from the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa and melanin production, and tyrosinase inhibition in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with the isolated dehydroevodiamine was investigated. The compound decreased melanin synthesis significantly without promoting cytotoxicity. The IC₅₀ value of dehydroevodiamine for melanogenesis and cell viability were 59.8 μM and 90.0 μM, respectively. The L-dopa oxidase activity of mushroom tyrosinase was reduced after dehydroevodiamine treatment by about 22.4% at a concentration of 33.2 μM. However, there was no effect on cellular tyrosinase activity. These results indicate that the observed decrease in melanin content after treatment with dehydroevodiamine was attributed to the direct inhibition of tyrosinase activity, rather than the suppression of tyrosinase gene expression. Dehydroevodiamine may be a promising new agent for use in cosmeceutical application.