The diversity of marine macroalgae (seaweeds) species and their widely ranging biochemical composition means that they represent a source of potential bioactive compounds for applications in the agri-food industry, cosmetics and pharmacology. There is a trend in the cosmetic industry towards the development and manufacture of cosmetics with seaweed extracts. Seaweeds are rich in vitamins, essential amino acids, mineral macro elements and trace elements such as iodine. Melanin is the major pigment for color of human skin. It is secreted by melanocyte cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanin may be overproduced with chronic sun exposure, melasma, or other hyper pigmentation diseases. Therefore, a number of depigmenting agents have been developed for cases of undesirable skin discoloration. Tyrosinase, a copper-containing monooxy-genase, is a key enzyme that catalyzes melanin synthesis in melanocytes. It catalyzes two major reactions, including hydroxylation of tyrosine and oxidation of the o-diphenol product, l-dopa. Dopa oxidation produces a highly reactive intermediate that is further oxidized to form melanin by a free radical-coupling pathway. If free radicals are inappropriately processed in melanin synthesis, hydrogen peroxide is generated, leading to production of hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen species. Melanin biosynthesis can be inhibited by avoiding ultraviolet exposure, by inhibition of melanocyte metabolism and proliferation, by inhibition of tyrosinase, or by removal of melanin by corneal ablation. The present research is a Comparative study of the Anti-tyrosinase activity of Chaetomorpha antennina and Ceratophyllum submersum extracts.
