酪氨酸酶催化L-酪氨酸产生3.4二羟基苯丙氨酸(L-DOPA)和L-DOPA到氨基二氧环己二烯丙酸两个氧化步骤,这两者为黑色素生物合成的控速步骤。已从微生物和植物中分离出酪氨酸酶抑制剂,其中有些已用作抗色素沉着过度剂。许多生药提取物也能抑制此酶,但仅从少量生药中分离、鉴定出此种活性化合物,如甘草中的Glabridin, Tyrosinase catalyzes the two oxidation steps of L-tyrosine production of 3.4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and L-DOPA to aminodioxo-diallylpropionic acid, both of which are melanin biosynthetic Speed ​​control steps. Tyrosinase inhibitors have been isolated from microorganisms and plants, some of which have been used as anti-hyperpigmentation agents. Many crude drug extracts also inhibit this enzyme, but this active compound is only isolated and identified from a small amount of crude drug, such as Glabridin in licorice.