Synthesis and cosmetic whitening effect of glycosides derived from several phenylpropanoids.

Plant-derived phenylpropanoid compounds (4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 2,3-dimethoxyphenol, 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, 3,5-dimethoxyphenol, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid) were glycosidated to form glycoside compounds. We evaluated the effects of these compounds on the inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis and their cytotoxicity from the viewpoint of their use as whitening agents in cosmetics. Some compounds had more potent tyrosinase-inhibiting activity than commercial arbutin, which was used as a control, and showed no cytotoxicity at low concentration ranges.