Present study was conducted at the Department of zoology at Mirpur University of
Science and Technology (MUST), during 2018-2019 to isolate extracts from selected
plants (Garlic and Peppermint) to explore their tyrosinase inhibition activity. Tyrosinase is
a key enzyme of melanogenesis which determines the mammalian skin, hair and eye
colour. Hyper-pigmentation leads to various skin disorders like melasma, sunspots, age
spots and freckles. Moreover, abnormal skin pigmentation is a serious aesthetic concern
which leads to psychosocial problems. Thus to achieve melanin inhibition, inhibition of
tyrosinase might be an effective approach. To this end we prepared methanolic (MeOH)
extracts from leaves and roots of Garlic Allium sativum (AS) and Peppermint Mentha
piperita (MP), which were further processed for 1:1 fractional distillation to prepare
methanolic n-hexane (MeOH_n-Hx), methanolic ethyl acetate (MeOH_EA) and
methanolic chloroform (MeOH_CHCl3) extracts, aiming to evaluate tyrosinase and antioxidant
activities in-vitro. Our results confirmed that all MeOH-crude AS and MP extracts
showed significant anti-oxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.05 ± 0.2 mg/ml
to 4.3 ± 2.3mg/ml. Moreover, AS and MP all 16 extracts have significant anti-tyrosinase
activity with IC50 range from 0.014 ± 0mg/ml to 1.205 ± 0.07mg/ml. Interestingly, AS
leaf MetOH_EA, AS leaf MetOH_CHCl3, AS root MetOH_EA and MP leaf MetOH_CHCl3
showed significant anti-tyrosinase activity even higher than positive control kojic acid.
AS leaf MetOH_CHCl3 extract being the most potent among all tested extracts is
proposed as potential candidate to treat tyrosinase rooted hyper-pigmentation in future.