Isolation of a Melanoblast Stimulator from Dimocarpus longan , Its Structural Modification, and Structure-Activity Relationships for Vitiligo.

A novel melanoblast stimulator ( 1 ) was isolated from Dimocarpus longan . Its analogs were also synthesized to support a new furan-based melanoblast stimulator scaffold for treating vitiligo. Isolated 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF, 1 ) is a well-known compound in the food industry. Surprisingly, the melanogenic activity of HMF ( 1 ) was discovered here for the first time. Both HMF and its synthetic analog ( 16 ) promote the differentiation and migration of melanoblasts in vitro. Typically, stimulator ( 1 ) upregulated MMP2 expression, which promoted the migration of melanoblasts in vitro.