摘要:Ten fatty acid alkyl esters isolated from Oxalis triangularis , were evaluated for the effects on melanogenesis using mouse B16 melanoma cells. Treatment of methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, ethyl linoleate and ethyl linolenate significantly blocked forskolin-induced melanogenesis and inhibited tyrosinase activity. In addition, we found that they inhibited cAMP production, suggesting that their anti-melanogenic effect is mediated by the inhibition of cAMP production. We concluded that methyl/ethyl linoleate and linolenate isolated from Oxalis triangularis have pigment inhibition activity. These compounds may be useful as the cosmetic agent to stimulate skin whitening.