A class of potent tyrosinase inhibitors: alkylidenethiosemicarbazide compounds.

A series of alkylidenethiosemicarbazide compounds were synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated. The results showed that most of the synthesized compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activities. Especially, compound 1f was found to be the most potent inhibitor with IC(50) value of 0.086 microM, suggesting that further development of such compounds may be of interest.