Abstract: Compounds having formula (I) may be used as skin lightening agents wherein R1 is CH═CH2, COOH or CH2—CH3; R3 is OH, or —OCH3; R4 is OH; and R2, R5 and R6 are all hydrogen, the compound of formula (I) optionally being in the form of a salt, when it contains a COOH and/or OH group.

Abstract: A method of producing a melanin comprises oxidizing a phenolic compound at one or more hydroxyl groups thereof, wherein the phenolic compound is selected from 5-hydroxyindole and derivatives thereof and compounds of formula (1) and the oxidation is provided by biotransformation in the presence of an oxidoreductase enzyme, the compound of formula (1), wherein R1 is H or OH; R2 is H, OH orOCH3; R3 is H or OH at least one of R1 and R3 being OH; R4 is selected from H , R, —COOX and R7—COOX, wherein R is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R7 is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkylene group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and X is selected from H and aliphatic and aromatic ester forming groups; and R5 and R6 is each independently selected from H, OH, NH2, OCH3, CH3, SH, NHCO2, NHCH3, COOH and saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for treating plant material such as sunflower seed meal with water and a hydrolytic enzyme in an aqueous environment to increase its nutritional value and to enzymatic methods for converting plant derived material into useful products.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel method of producing caffeic acid in large quantities, comprising the esterification of chlorogenic acid with an esterifying enzyme. Caffeic acid and its derivatives, produced by this method, may be used in sunscreen compositions, the caffeic acid and its derivatives absorbing both uvA and uvB light.