The synergistic effect of Morus alba and Nelumbo nucifera mixture to the antityrosinase and anti-elastase activities

Combinations of crude drugs have been widely used in Thai traditional medicine for the purposes of synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects. This concept was applied to investigate the antityrosinase and antielastase activities of the combination of plant extracts, Morus alba (Moraceae) root bark which is known for antityrosinase, and Nelumbo nucifera (Nelumbonaceae) rhizome which possesses anti-elastase activity. It was found that the mixture of 95% ethanolic extract of M. alba (ME) (80µg/ml) and 20µg/ml aqueous extract of N. nucifera (NE) showed the inhibitory effect to tyrosinase (90.4%) which significantly differed (P<0.01) from 100µg/ml ME (60.0%), 100µg/ml NE (1.5%), and 40µg/ml kojic acid (73.5%). For anti-elastase activity, the mixture of 20µg/ml ME and 80µg/ml NE exhibited 57.3% inhibition which was different (P<0.05) from those of 100µg/ml ME (13.4%), or 100µg/ml NE (44.8%), but not significantly differed from 114µg/ml epigallocatechin gallate (61.6%). The results clearly indicated the synergistic effect of the mixture of 2 plants extract to the antityrosinase and anti-elastase activities and could be served as a new herbal formulation for cosmetic purposes. The mechanisms of these synergistic effects needed to be further clarified.