REACTION OF DIHYDROXYACETONE (DHA) WITH HUMAN SKIN CALLUS AND AMINO COMPOUNDS

[摘要] The reaction of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) with amino acids and with callus from human skin was studied in relation to the tanning effect of DHA on human skin. Ground human skin was stained brown by solutions of DHA at room temperature; callus immersed in fructose turned brown when heated at boiling for 15 minutes. Arginine and DHA react rapidly to form a brown color. Fructose and arginine react similarly but at a much slower rate at room temperature. Chromatographic studies revealed the presence of several intermediate products which may be responsible for the browning phenomenon. From the point of view of these studies, arginine is one of the most important amino acid constituents of human skin. Combination of DHA and the basic groups of arginine is probably responsible for the browning which is observed when human skin is treated with DHA.