Novel Chemically Modified Curcumin Analogs Exhibit Anti-Melanogenic Activity in Primary Human Melanocytes

The study evaluated four novel chemically modified curcumin (CMC) analogs—CMC2.14, CMC2.24, CMC2.23, and CMC2.5—for their anti-melanogenic effects on primary human melanocytes. CMC2.24 and CMC2.23 effectively inhibited melanin production and tyrosinase activity without cytotoxicity, unlike CMC2.14, which was highly cytotoxic. CMC2.5 uniquely reduced tyrosinase protein levels without affecting its activity. These CMCs were more potent than parent curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin at low concentrations (5-25 µM), which were ineffective and toxic. The findings suggested that CMCs could be promising agents for skin depigmentation, warranting further research in human skin tissue and in vivo trials.