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Inhibitory effects of constituents of Morinda citrifolia seeds on elastase and tyrosinase

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Abstract

A 50% ethanolic extract (MCS-ext) from seeds of Morinda citrifolia (“noni” seeds) showed more potent in vitro inhibition of elastase and tyrosinase, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than extracts of M. citrifolia leaves or flesh. Activity-guided fractionation of MCS-ext using in vitro assays led to the isolation of ursolic acid as an active constituent of elastase inhibitory activity. 3,3′-Bisdemethylpinoresinol, americanin A, and quercetin were isolated as active constituents having both tyrosinase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities. Americanin A and quercetin also showed superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. These active compounds were isolated from noni seeds for the first time.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported financially by “Antiaging Center Project” for Private Universities from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2008–2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan

    Megumi Masuda, Kazuya Murata, Akiko Fukuhama, Shunsuke Naruto, Tadashi Fujita & Hideaki Matsuda

  2. Research and Development, Tahitian Noni Inc., 3-2-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan

    Akemi Uwaya & Fumiyuki Isami

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  1. Megumi Masuda
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  2. Kazuya Murata
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  3. Akiko Fukuhama
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  4. Shunsuke Naruto
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  5. Tadashi Fujita
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  8. Hideaki Matsuda
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Correspondence to Hideaki Matsuda.

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Masuda, M., Murata, K., Fukuhama, A. et al. Inhibitory effects of constituents of Morinda citrifolia seeds on elastase and tyrosinase. J Nat Med 63, 267–273 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-009-0328-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-009-0328-6

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