The characterization, anti-tyrosinase activity, cytotoxicity against B16 mouse melanoma cells, antioxidant, and DNA damage protection activities of condensed tannins purified from Vigna angularis seeds were reported.

The activities of ellagic acid in inhibiting mushroom tyrosinase and cell proliferation were evaluated in this research. The results of enzyme kinetics indicated that ellagic acid could effectively inhibit tyrosinase activity. The value of the semi‐inhibitory rate (IC50) was 0.2 ± 0.05 mM. Ellagic acid inhibited tyrosinase activity in a reversible manner and was a mixed tyrosinase inhibitor. Furthermore, ellagic acid had a good inhibitory effect on the proliferation of mouse melanoma B16 cells and could induce apoptosis. The results acquired from fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the interaction of ellagic acid with tyrosinase depended on hydrogen bond and electrostatic force. In addition, computational docking showed that ellagic acid interacted with amino acid residues of tyrosinase (Asn19 and Lys372) by hydrogen bond and produced electrostatic interaction with amino residue Lys18. Practical applications In the present research, the antityrosinase mechanism of ellagic acid and its effect on mouse melanoma cells were investigated. This study suggested that ellagic acid had a strong inhibitory activity against tyrosinase and cell proliferation,which laid an experimental foundation for the development of new drugs and whitening products. The combined multispectral methods used in this research can be applied to the screening of other antityrosinase inhibitors, further promoting the development and utilization of tyrosinase inhibitors.