Biological activities of BY2-melanin, a plant-type eumelanin, isolated from cultured tobacco BY-2 cells
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BY2-melanin, a plant eumelanin distinct from nitrogen-free plant allomelanins, was previously isolated from cultured BY-2 tobacco cells. Herein, the biological activities of BY2-melanin, including its ability to protect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and antioxidant activity, were investigated. Based on the survival rate of Escherichia coli, the ability of BY2-melanin to protect against UVR was three and eight times higher than that of melanins isolated from fungi and bacteria, respectively. Its antioxidant activities, determined as ferrous iron-chelating activity and reducing power, were 1.7–4.9 and 0.3–0.4 times higher than those of animal melanins, respectively. Its 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities were similar to those of mushroom melanin, whereas its hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was one-fourth of that of melanins derived from mushroom and black tea. These findings shed light on the development of a class of melanin biopolymers that can be used as a broad-spectrum sunscreen with antioxidant activity.
Source: Figshare
Authors: Islam, Abul Taher Mohammed Rafiqul, Arakawa, Kenji, Komaguchi, Kenji, Kitamura, Kenji, Tanaka, Nobukazu
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6902254056
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