Constituents from the Formosan apple reduce tyrosinase activity in human epidermal melanocytes

The active compounds, 3-hydroxyphloretin and catechol, were isolated from the Formosan apple. The compounds exhibited hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity and reduced cellular tyrosinase activity in HEMn cells. Catechol showed downregulation of the levels of tyrosinase-related proteins and mRNA. The two compounds also exhibited metal-coordinating interactions with copper ions, in a virtual model of molecular docking.