Figure 2. Molecular mechanisms of flavonoids on melanin synthesis.
The current understanding of melanin synthesis follows the cAMP-PKA-MITF-tyrosinase scheme, in which MITF serves as the master transcriptional factor activating tyrosinase, DCT and TYRP-1, and receives signals from MC1R. Inhibitory or stimulatory effects of each compound are listed in the scheme with references discussed in the text.