The antioxidant activity of three major polyamine conjugates,
N,
N'-dicoumaroyl-putrescine (DCP),
N-
p-coumaroyl-
N'-feruloylputrescine (CFP), and
N,
N'-diferuloyl-putrescine (DFP) isolated from cornbran, and their related hydroxycinnamic acids,
p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, were evaluated bythree antioxidant in vitro assay systems, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical andsuperoxide and hydroxyl radicals generated by enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions. Additionally,five phenolic compounds were evaluated for melanogenesis inhibitory activity using mushroomtyrosinase and B16 melanoma cells. Most of the phenolic compounds significantly scavenged DPPH,superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, DFP showed potentDPPH (IC
50 = 38.46
M) and superoxide (IC
50 = 291.62
M) radical scavenging activities, whileDCP exhibited the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC
50 = 120.55
M). CFP also exertedmoderate DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Meanwhile, DCP (IC
50 =181.73
M) showed potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity toward
L-tyrosine as the substrate, whereasDFP (IC
50 = 733.64
M) significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells. These currentresults indicate that these three polyamine conjugates from corn bran may be useful potential sourcesof natural antioxidants and skin-whitening agents.