Takasago International Corporation

Takasago Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Inc.

Takasago Institute for Interdisciplinary

Kok Lean Kang

Tetsuo Nakatsu

Jiansheng Huang

Randi L Helms

Kelly L McAlister

Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase in a host and, as a result, inhibiting melanin-formation. The tyrosinase-inhibitor active ingredient is a compound or mixture of compounds represented by the following structural formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein the dotted lines at a, b, c, d, e, f, g, represent an optional double bond, provided that double bonds are not at both b and c, or at both f and g, at the same time; R.sup.1, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are each hydrogen or methyl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.8 are each no group, or each hydrogen or hydroxyl when there is no double bond at a and at f, respectively; R.sup.3 is methylene when there is a double bond at b, or hydrogen or methyl when there is no double bond at b; R.sup.4 is formyl or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sup.10, wherein R.sup.10 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, acyloxy, or cyano and n is an integer of from 1 to 3; and R.sup.9 is methylene when there is a double bond at g, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sup.10 when there is no double bond at g.

Tyrosinase inhibitors

Antimicrobial compositions for controlling P. aeruginosa or P. acnes which contains indole and a naturally occurring substance selected from the group consisting of anacardic acid, limonene, .beta.-pinene, farnesol, .beta.-citronellol, pine resin, hinokitiol, longifolene, and .beta.-caryophyllene.

Antimicrobial compositions of indole and naturally occurring

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Kok Lean Kang