Table 1.
The bioactive compounds (low molecular weight, 100–300 g/mol) and their antimelanogenic activity.
| Bioactive Compounds | Description | ICp | Icm | ICt | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kojic acid |
Formula: C6H6O4 MW: 142.11 Origin: Apergillus/Penicillium Log P: −2.45 |
~90% (50 µM) | ~80% (50 µM) ~50% (20 mM) |
~60% (20 mM) | [13,44,52,66] |
 Phenylthiorea |
Formula: C7H8N2S MW: 152.22 Origin: Synthetic Log P: 0.73 |
- | ~55% (30 ug/mL) ~30% (200 ppm) |
~45% (30 ug/mL) ~20% (200 ppm) |
[43,44,67] |
 Arbutin |
Formula: C12H16O7 MW: 272.25 Origin: Bearberry plant Log P: −0.58 |
~75% (10 mM) | - | - | [13] |
 Gallic acid |
Formula: C7H6O5 MW: 170.12 Origin: Plant Log P: 0.47 |
~40% (50 µM) | - | - | [6] |
 Raspberry ketone |
Formula: C10H12O2 MW: 164.20 Origin: Raspberry Log P: 2.07 |
PO | ~60% (600 µM) | ~60% (600 µM) | [60] |
 Ascorbic acid |
Formula: C6H8O6 MW: 176.12 Origin: Plant Log P: −3.36 |
- | No effect (0.5 mM) | No effect (0.5 mM) | [61] |
 Sodium erythorbate |
Formula: C7H10NaO6 MW: 213.14 Origin: Synthetic Log P:- |
- | ~60% (300 mM) | ~60% (300 mM) | [61] |
 Bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)sulfide |
Formula: C14H14O2S MW: 246.32 Origin: Gastrodia elata Log P: 3.50 |
~50% (53 µM) | - | - | [13] |
 4-phenyl hydroxycoumarins |
Formula: C15H10O3 MW: 238.24 Origin: Synthetic Log P: 2.04 |
~50% (5–25 ug/mL) | - | - | [68] |
 Oxyresveratrol |
Formula: C14H12O4 MW: 244.24 Origin: Morus alba Wood Log P: 2.67 |
PO | - | - | [51] |
 2,4,3′-Trihydroxydihydrostilbene |
Formula: C14H14O3 MW: 230.26 Origin: Morus alba Wood Log P: 3.38 |
PO | - | - | [51] |
 p-Coumaric acid |
Formula: C9H8O3 MW: 164.05 Origin: Plant Log P: 1.54 |
~40% (100 µM) | Pigment eye | - | [43,69] |
 Sesamol |
Formula: C7H6O3 MW: 138.12 Origin: Sesamum indicum Log P: 1.42 |
~55% (50 µM) | ~30% (50 µM) | ~20–30% (50 µM) | [63] |
 β-lapachone |
Formula: C15H14O3 MW: 242.27 Origin: Tabebuia avellandedae Log P: 1.68 |
PO | ~70% (3.2 µM) | ~40% (3.2 µM) | [64] |
 2-Methylphenyl-E-(3-hydroxy-5-methoxy)-styryl ether |
Formula: C16H16O3 MW: 256.11 Origin: Synthetic Log P: 4.02 |
PO | - | - | [41] |
 Niacinamide |
Formula: C6H6ON2 MW: 122.12 Origin: Plant Log P: −0.35 |
PO | - | - | [41] |
 Tretinoin |
Formula: C19H26O2 MW: 286.41 Origin: Natural/Synthetic Log P: 4.47 |
PO | - | - | [41] |
 2-Morpholinobutyl)-4-thiophenol |
Formula: C14H21O2NS MW: 267.39 Origin: Plant Log P: 2.24 |
PO | - | - | [41] |
Note: MW, molecular weight (g/mol); ICp, phenotype pigmentation level; ICm, melanin content level; ICt, tyrosinase activity level; PO, Phenotype observation. ICp, ICm and ICt in percentage (%) as compared to untreated control.