Inhibitory Effect of Lichen Metabolites and their Synthetic Analogues on Melanin Biosynthesis in Cultured B-16 Mouse Melanoma Cells

The analogues of lichen components showing anti-tyrosinase activities were synthesized. 4-Alkylresorcinol derivatives showed both the inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity in B-16 melanoma cells at the doses of 10 mM to 1.2 mM. Resorcinol and 4-methylresorcinol showed the inhibitory effect with a low cytotoxicity at the doses of 2.5 mM and $600\;{\mu}M$ among 4-alkylresorcinols, respectively. Some diphenylmethane derivatives (Type A, B, and C) had strong activities with a low cytotoxicity. While xanthine derivatives had no effect. Glucosides of 4,5-alkylresorcinol and the diphenylmethane derivative (Type B) were prepared to decrease the cytotoxicity. As a result, no effect were observed. Liposome of the diphenylmethane derivative (Type B) was prepared for the same purpose, and the latter showed a remarkable effect at the dose of $15\;{\mu}M$ with a low cytotoxicity.