Lavender and peppermint essential oils as effective mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors: a basic study

Screening and characterization of novel tyrosinase inhibitors is useful for applications in food technology, cosmetics and medicine. The hydrodistilled essential oils from lavender Lavandula spica L. and peppermint Mentha x piperita L.were investigated for tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Their composition was assessed by gas chromatography–massspectrometry. Both oils inhibited mushroom tyrosinase in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 values were estimated,kinetics were analysed and Ki values were determined. Our results indicate that lavender and peppermint essential oilsmay be promising herbal ingredients for developing depigmenting agents in clinical, cosmetic and industrial processes