Use of yeast extract including glutathione as melanin production inhibitor

Glutathione is known to have various beauty effects such as a high melanin production inhibitory action and antioxidant action. Although glutathione is classified as a pharmaceutical in Japan, it cannot be used in food products. However, the demand for such properties in food products has grown, particularly in recent years. A glutathione-containing yeast extract that was extracted from a yeast already used in food and recognized as safe was confirmed to have an effect of inhibiting melanin production by mouse B16 melanoma cells, and, compared to glutathione alone at the same concentration, a superior melanin production inhibitory effect at least twice as strong could be obtained.