Rhapontigenin production by byconversion and inhibition of melanin synthesis

Rhapontin is the glycosylated stilbene compound, and comprising major component of rhubarb root extract. Rhapontin has been used as a raw material of skin- whitening cosmetics in Korea. Rhapontigenin, the aglycone of rhapontin, has been suggested to be more active than its glycosylated form. Therefore, the rhubarb root extract was treated with commercial enzyme, Pectinex to remove glycosylated moiety of rhapontin and rhapontigenin was prepared. The resulting material was analysed and identified as rhapontigenin by proton NMR and MALDI-Mass. Rhapontigenin exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 126.72 μg/mL. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of rhapontigenin was six times higher than that of rhapontin. In melanin biosynthesis inhibition assay using Streptomyces bikiniensis, rhapontigenin showed wider inhibition zone than that of rhapontin. From these results, we expect that rhapontigenin has stronger skin whitening effect than rhapontin and has advantages in cosmetic industry.