Effects of Galgeungyulpitang on Cellular Production of Melanin and Elastase

Background: This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of Galgeungyulpitang for whitening and elasticity treatment by examining its effect on melanoma cells. Methods: The effects of Galgeungyulpitang on B16/F10 melanoma cell viability, production of melanin, tyrosinase and elastase, were investigated. Cell viability was measured by colorimetric assay that assesses cell metabolic activity (MTT assay). Melanin was measured by Hosei's method, tyrosinase was measured by Yogi's method and elastase was measured by James's method. Results: At concentrations higher than $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, cell viability was significantly reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$). At concentrations of $500{\mu}g/mL$ and lower, morphological changes were not observed. The rate of melanin synthesis was significantly reduced to $73.49%{\pm}2.92%$ at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang compared with untreated cells (p < 0.05). Extracellular tyrosinase production was not significantly decreased in vitro, however, intracellular tyrosinase production was significantly reduced to $76.06%{\pm}2.17%$ when treated with Galgeungyulpitang at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ compared with the control (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 1 production was significantly reduced to $74.98%{\pm}3.24%$ and $69.62%{\pm}4.66%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, respectively (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 4 production was significantly reduced to $72.77%{\pm}3.52%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results in this study showed that Galgeungyulpitang may inhibit melanin and tyrosinase synthesis, and inhibit elastase production, suggesting that Galgeungyulpitang may be potentially beneficial for skin whitening and loss of skin elasticity treatments.