Tyrosinase inhibitory effects and antioxidative activities of novel cinnamoyl amides with amino acid ester moiety

► Nine cinnamoyl amides with amino acid ester (CAAE) moiety were synthesized. ► These CAAE derivatives showed good inhibitory activities of mushroom tyrosinase. ► Compound b4 showed the strongest inhibitory activity and the IC50 was 0.18 μM. ► Series b compounds showed good anti-lipid peroxidation activity.