Valorization of Hom Thong Banana Peel (Musa sp., AAA Group) as an Anti-Melanogenic Agent Through Inhibition of Pigmentary Genes and Molecular Docking Study

The study explores the potential of Hom Thong banana peel extracts as anti-melanogenic agents, focusing on their ability to inhibit melanin synthesis by targeting the enzyme tyrosinase (TYR). Molecular docking studies revealed that rosmarinic acid, a compound found in these peels, interacts strongly with TYR, showing a binding energy of -5.05 kcal/mol. The peels are rich in phenolic compounds that reduce melanin content and tyrosinase activity in human and mouse melanoma cells by suppressing the expression of melanogenesis-related genes, such as MITF, TYR, TRP-1, and DCT. The effects are comparable to standard treatments like arbutin and kojic acid, highlighting the potential of Hom Thong banana peels in treating skin hyperpigmentation.