The present invention implements a strategy that combines an enzyme inhibition assay with a chemical dereplication process to identify active plant extracts and the particular compoundsdiarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols within those extracts that specifically inhibit binuclear enzyme function. Included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of one or more of diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols, which inhibit the activity of binuclear enzymes, particularly tyrosinase and which prevent melanin overproduction. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the activity of a binuclear enzyme, particularly tyrosinase and a method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function. The present invention further includes a method for preventing and treating melanin overproduction and diseases and conditions of the skin related thereto. The method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function and melanin overproduction is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols synthesized and/or isolated from one or more plants together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A composition containing a polyphenol compound (B), wherein the polyphenol compound (B) is one or more selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a resin having a structure represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001##

A composition containing a polyphenol compound (B), wherein the polyphenol compound (B) is one or more selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a resin having a structure represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001##

The present invention implements a strategy that combines an enzyme inhibition assay with a chemical dereplication process to identify active plant extracts and the particular compoundsdiarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols within those extracts that specifically inhibit binuclear enzyme function. Included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of one or more of diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols, which inhibit the activity of binuclear enzymes, particularly tyrosinase and which prevent melanin overproduction. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the activity of a binuclear enzyme, particularly tyrosinase and a method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function. The present invention further includes a method for preventing and treating melanin overproduction and diseases and conditions of the skin related thereto. The method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function and melanin overproduction is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols synthesized and/or isolated from one or more plants together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention implements a strategy that combines an enzyme inhibition assay with a chemical dereplication process to identify active plant extracts and the particular compoundsdiarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols within those extracts that specifically inhibit binuclear enzyme function. Included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of one or more of diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols, which inhibit the activity of binuclear enzymes, particularly tyrosinase and which prevent melanin overproduction. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the activity of a binuclear enzyme, particularly tyrosinase and a method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function. The present invention further includes a method for preventing and treating melanin overproduction and diseases and conditions of the skin related thereto. The method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function and melanin overproduction is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols synthesized and/or isolated from one or more plants together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention employs a compound represented by the following formula (1) and/or a resin comprising the compound as a constituent:

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is a 2n-valent group of 1 to 60 carbon atoms or a single bond; R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 are each independently a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a thiol group, a hydroxy group, or a group in which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxy group is replaced with an acid dissociation group, provided that at least one selected from R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 is a group in which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxy group is replaced with an acid dissociation group; m.sup.2 and m.sup.3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 8; m.sup.4 and m.sup.3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 9, provided that m.sup.2, m.sup.3, m.sup.4, and m.sup.3 are not 0 at the same time; n is an integer of 1 to 4; and p.sup.2 to p.sup.5 are each independently an integer of 0 to 2.

The present invention employs a compound represented by the following formula (1) and/or a resin comprising the compound as a constituent:

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is a 2n-valent group of 1 to 60 carbon atoms or a single bond; R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 are each independently a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a thiol group, a hydroxy group, or a group in which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxy group is replaced with an acid dissociation group, provided that at least one selected from R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 is a group in which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxy group is replaced with an acid dissociation group; m.sup.2 and m.sup.3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 8; m.sup.4 and m.sup.3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 9, provided that m.sup.2, m.sup.3, m.sup.4, and m.sup.3 are not 0 at the same time; n is an integer of 1 to 4; and p.sup.2 to p.sup.5 are each independently an integer of 0 to 2.

The present invention implements a strategy that combines an enzyme inhibition assay with a chemical dereplication process to identify active plant extracts and the particular compoundsdiarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols within those extracts that specifically inhibit binuclear enzyme function. Included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of one or more of diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols, which inhibit the activity of binuclear enzymes, particularly tyrosinase and which prevent melanin overproduction. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the activity of a binuclear enzyme, particularly tyrosinase and a method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function. The present invention further includes a method for preventing and treating melanin overproduction and diseases and conditions of the skin related thereto. The method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function and melanin overproduction is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols synthesized and/or isolated from one or more plants together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention implements a strategy that combines an enzyme inhibition assay with a chemical dereplication process to identify active plant extracts and the particular compoundsdiarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols within those extracts that specifically inhibit binuclear enzyme function. Included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of one or more of diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols, which inhibit the activity of binuclear enzymes, particularly tyrosinase and which prevent melanin overproduction. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the activity of a binuclear enzyme, particularly tyrosinase and a method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function. The present invention further includes a method for preventing and treating melanin overproduction and diseases and conditions of the skin related thereto. The method for preventing and treating diseases and conditions related to binuclear enzyme function and melanin overproduction is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more diarylalkanes and/or diarylalkanols synthesized and/or isolated from one or more plants together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present disclosure provides compounds of formula (I) or salts thereof, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.10 and x are defined herein; compositions containing these compounds; methods of inhibiting, reducing, or ameliorating bacterial growth on a substrate using these compound; and products such as dental care products, soaps, antibacterial products, and plastics comprise one or more compounds described herein.

##STR00001##