Ellagic Acid (Copper Chelation)

A polyphenol widely distributed in plants, is capable of preventing pigmentation caused by sunburn (34). Ellagic acid inhibits tyrosinase non-competitively in a dose-dependent manner, through its capacity to chelate copper, even if other mechanisms, such as a scavenger effect have been suggested. Interestingly, in brownish guinea pigs (34), ellagic acid induced a reversible inhibition of melanin synthesis only in UV-activated melanocytes (34).

Updated: July 3, 2015 — 5:36 pm