• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

To develop a new natural whitening agent for cosmetics, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Poria cocos Bark extracts (PCBE) and its active compound on melanogenesis. PCBE showed ROS scavenging activities in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and xanthine/xanthine oxidase system with the $IC_{50}$ values of $19.4{\pm}2.21{\mu}g$/mL and $IC_{50}=103{\pm}3.33{\mu}g$/mL, respectively. PCBE reduced intracellular tyrosinase activity about 34 % at concentration of $50{\mu}g$/mL. And PCBE reduced melanin contents of B16 melanoma cells about 51 % at concentration of $50{\mu}g$/mL without cell cytotoxicity (below $100{\mu}g$/mL). We purified one active compound from PCBE and identified its structure. It was identified as 3-$\beta$-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-4-oic acid, triterpene family, by $^1H$-NMR, $^{13}C$-NMR and Mass analysis. 3-$\beta$-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-4-oic acid showed ROS scavenging activities in DPPH radical and xanthine/xanthine oxidase system with the $IC_{50}$ values of $4.3{\pm}0.15{\mu}g$/mL and $54{\pm}1.67{\mu}g$/mL, respectively. Also, it was shown that 3-$\beta$-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-4-oic acid reduced intracellular tyrosinase activity about 43 % at concentration of $10{\mu}g$/mL. And it inhibited melanin synthesis in a dose dependent manner ($IC_{50}=3.6{\mu}g$/mL) without cell cytotoxicity (below $100{\mu}g$/mL). 3-$\beta$-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-4-oic acid inhibited tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression at protein level. These results suggest that PCBE and 3-$\beta$-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-4-oic acid reduced melanin formation by the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and expression in B16 melanoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that PCBE could be used as a useful whitening agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.177-185
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• 2005

For the purpose of the quality control of Poria cocos, three major compounds were isolated and identified as pachymic acid (1), $3{\beta}-hydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-21-oic$ acid (2), and dehydroeburicoic acid (3). The optimal extraction conditions for the quantification of pachymic acid its analogues were the 3 hours of reflux with 15g of P. cocos in 100ml 95% ethanol. HPLC conditions were as follows: Column; ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C18 $(4.6{\times}250\;mm,\;Agillent)$, mobile phase; 1% HOAc in 70% $MeOH{\rightarrow}1%$ HOAc in 100% MeOH for 25 min, then 1% HOAc in 100% MeOH for 15 min, detector, ELSD, flow rate; 1ml/min. The mean contents of 1,2, and 3 in Poria cocos cultivated at 18 different site were $0.65{\pm}0.19,\;0.88{\pm}0.72,\;and\;0.84{\pm}0.54\;mg/g$, respectively, and values might be the guide line for the quality control of P. cocos.