MATERIALS AND METHODS Instrumentation and General Techniques UV spectra

Recently, much attention has focused on the application of naturally occurring crude drugs in cosmetics. From this point of view, we examined crude drugs that originated from the Moraceae family. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves contain-ing many nutritional components are the best food for silk-worms. Chen et al. reported that extracts from mulberry leaves have a potent antihyperglycemic activity in diabet-ic mice.1) N-containing sugars,2,3) plant hormone4) and moracetin5) have been isolated from mulberry leaves. Many phenolic compounds have been identified from the root bark of mulberry tree.6) Morus alba L. also contains rutin,7) iso-quercitrin and astragalin.8) Recently, the root bark of Morus alba has been shown to have a skin whitening effect. Oxyresveratrol was suggested to be an active ingredient of the plant for this effect. However, components with anti-hy-perpigmentation activity from mulberry leaves have not been reported so far. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of compounds obtained from mulberry leaves on melanin biosynthesis were investigated