Inhibitory effects of mycosporine-2-glycine isolated from a halotolerant cyanobacterium on protein glycation and collagenase activity.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are known as multifunctional natural compounds. The MAA mycosporine-2-glycine (M2G), isolated from the halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica, has potential therapeutic applications for the prevention of skin ageing. Purified M2G was endotoxin-free. M2G had greater inhibitory activity of protein cross-linking compared with well-known inhibitor, aminoguanidine and hindered bacterial collagenase activity. The mechanisms for these inhibitory activities of M2G are discussed in this study.