• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2015

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a major component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. Its effects on living organisms are different from those of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) found in Gram-negative bacteria. LTA contributes to immune regulatory effects including anti-aging. In this study, we showed that LTA isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum (pLTA) inhibited melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. pLTA reduced the cellular activity of tyrosinase and the expression of tyrosinase family members in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of microphthalmia- associated transcription factor (MITF), a key factor in the synthesis of melanin, was also decreased by pLTA. Further, we showed that pLTA activated melanogenesis signaling, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinse (PI3K)/AKT. In addition, the expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) and HuR, which are important RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), was reduced. pLTA likely degrades MITF via regulation of melanogenic signaling and RNA stability of melanogenic proteins, resulting in the reduction of melanin. Thus, our data suggest that pLTA has therapeutic potential for treating hyperpigmentation disorders and can also be used as a cosmetic whitening agent.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.484-489
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• 2013

Piperlonguminine (PL), an important component of Piper longum fruits, is known to exhibit anti-hyperlipidemic, antiplatelet and anti-melanogenic activities. Here, the anticoagulant activities of PL were examined by monitoring activated-partial-thromboplastin-time (aPTT), prothrombin-time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). The effects of PL on the expressions of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were also tested in tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) activated HUVECs. The results showed that PL prolonged aPTT and PT significantly and inhibited the activities of thrombin and FXa. PL inhibited the generation of thrombin and FXa in HUVECs. In accordance with these anticoagulant activities, PL prolonged in vivo bleeding time and inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$ induced PAI-1 production. Furthermore, PAI-1/t-PA ratio was significantly decreased by PL. Collectively, our results suggest that PL possesses antithrombotic activities and that the current study could provide bases for the development of new anticoagulant agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-melanogenesis effects of mulberry seed extracts (MSE). MSE inhibited melanogenesis in melan-a cells at $10{\mu}g/mL$ without cytotoxicity. Also, MSE decreased tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) protein expression in the melan-a cells. To identify the signaling pathway of MSE, the ability of MSE to influence extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation was investigated. MSE induced ERK protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, MSE presented inhibition of the body pigmentation in vivo zebrafish model. These results suggest that MSE may be an effective anti-melanogenesis agent regulating the expression of ERK protein and melanogenic enzymes.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2012

Ramalin (${\gamma}$-glutamyl-N'-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazide) isolated from the Antarctic lichen Ramalina terebrata has been shown to have strong antioxidant activities in the previous study. To investigate additional activities of ramalin, we studied the effects of ramalin on melanogenesis in melan-a cells, a non-tumorigenic melanocyte cell line. At a non-cytotoxic concentration, ramalin dramatically decreased melanin synthesis in melan-a cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was more potent than arbutin, a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor. Ramalin inhibited cell-free tyrosinase activity directly and intracellular tyrosinase activity as well. Its inhibitory mechanisms on melanin production were further assessed, and we found that ramalin significantly decreased the protein levels of melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2). However, the mRNA levels of these enzymes were not altered. In a clinical study, application of 0.2 % ramalin on human skin significantly improved the degree of skin brightness after 3 weeks. In conclusion, ramalin has strong anti-melanogenic activity that is exerted both by the direct inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by down-regulation of melanogenic proteins. Furthermore, ramalin showed skin brightening effect in a clinical study. Collectively, these results suggest that ramalin may be a useful inhibitor for melanogenesis in skin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.349-355
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• 2019

The anti-inflammatory effects of 4'-O-methylalpinumisoflavone (OMAI) has been reported in recent years. To develop effective and safe skin whitening agents, we investigated the anti-oxidative and melanogenic effects of OMAI isolated from fruit of Maclura tricuspidata Carrière (Cudrania tricuspidata) in macrophage and melanoma cell lines. In our results, OMAI showed effective superoxide scavenging activity and suppressed production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, α-melanocyte stimulation hormone (MSH)-induced production of melanin was also reduced by OMAI in B16F10 cells. Finally, OMAI significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. These results suggest that OMAI suppressed melanin production via scavenging reactive oxygen species and inhibition of tyrosinase activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1391-1400
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• 2018

Angelica tenuissima root has historically been used as a traditional medicine in Korea. Previous studies have identified the anti-melanogenic effects of the extract of A. tenuissima root fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (FAT). This study investigated the protective effects of FAT against ultraviolet light B exposure (UVB; $30mJ/cm^2$) in HaCaT (human keratinocyte) or Hs68 (human foreskin fibroblast) skin cells. FAT treatment was able to stimulate wound healing rate at the basal condition. FAT also favored the maintenance and/or improvement of extracellular matrix impairment caused by UVB irradiation through: 1) upregulation of procollagen Type-1 synthesis and secretion; 2) suppression of MMP-1 and elastase expression. FAT was able to play a role in the attenuation of inflammatory responses caused by UVB irradiation via upregulation of photo-protective hemeoxygease-1 and suppression of proinflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 expression. After further verification of the anti-photoaging potential of FAT, it could be utilized as an effective ingredient in anti-aging and anti-wrinkle cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2018

In order to find new functional materials for the cosmetics application, we investigated the anti-oxidant and anti-melanogenic properties of Gentiana scabra extracts (GSE), which were prepared by the various extraction methods. Results showed that GSE had high DPPH radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, GSE inhibited the prodution of melanin in B16F10 melanoma cell as well as tyrosinase activity. We also found that GSE inhibited mRNA expression of tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and 2. In conclusion we suggest that GSE is applicable to cosmetics as a potential ingredient for their anti-oxidant and whitening effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2023

As a protective defensive mechanism against ultraviolet (UV) light exposure in skin tissue, melanocytes produce the pigment melanin. Tyrosinase plays a key role in melanin production in melanocytes. However, the overproduction of melanin can lead to lesions, such as freckles and dark spots. Thus, it is clinically important to find a modulating molecule to control melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase expression and/or activity. It is known that catechin, a plant flavonoid, can reduce melano- genesis through the downregulation of tyrosinase expression. Here, we tested whether catechin derivatives isolated from the stem bark of Ulmus parvifolia have an effect on melanin production by regulating tyrosinase in mouse melanoma cells and in vitro mushroom tyrosinase. The catechin derivatives used in this study included C5A, C7A, C7G, and C7X. Treatments using these catechin derivatives reduced melanin production in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells in which melanogenesis was stimulated by α-MSH. Notably, the anti-melanogenic effects of catechin derivatives were similar to those of kojic acid, a well-known anti-melanogenic molecule. Both C5A and C7A directly inhibited the activity of tyrosinase isolated from mushrooms in vitro. Furthermore, our in silico computational simulation showed that these two compounds were expected to bind to the active site of tyrosinase, which is similar to kojic acid. In addition, all four catechin derivatives reduced tyrosinase protein expression. In summary, our results showed that catechin derivatives can reduce melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase activity or expression. Thus, this study suggests that catechin derivatives isolated from U. parvifolia can be novel modulators of melanin production.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2013

To investigate the efficacy of enzymatic extract of Ecklonia cava and its polyphenol extract (AG-DK) as cosmetic ingredients, the anti-oxidative effect, anti-glycation effect, anti-melanogenic effect, and anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts were evaluated in vitro. The enzymatic extract of E. cava ($SC_{50}$ 42.9 ppm) and AG-DK ($SC_{50}$ 6.4 ppm) showed a strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The anti-glycation ability of the enzymatic extract of E. cava and AG-DK was tested using bovine serum albumin (BSA), which inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in the BSA/glucose system. The enzymatic extract of E. cava ($IC_{50}$ 97.2 ppm) and AG-DK ($IC_{50}$ 7 ppm) had inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity. Moreover, the enzymatic extract of E. cava and AG-DK had an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of nitricoxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$). These findings suggest that the enzymatic extract of E. cava and AG-DK can be applied to skin-care products as cosmetic ingredients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2015

Endlicheria anomala, a neotropical plant, is found in northern South America and the Amazon region. It is traditionally used to remove poisons and cure gangrene. According to recent data, this plant has diverse biological properties such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic properties. However, the anti-cancer effect of E. anomala and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-cancer effect and the active mechanism of methanol extract of E. anomala (MEEA) in human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human liver cancer cells (HepG2). Our data revealed that MEEA showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis both in A549 and HepG2 cells. We verified evidences of apoptosis via formation of chromatin condensation, apoptotic body and accumulation of cells in the subG1 phase. Following observed apoptosis-related phenomena, we found that the induction of apoptosis by MEEA was associated with the increase of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression. Furthermore, MEEA-induced apoptosis was characterized with proteolytic activation of caspase-3, degradation of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. Taken together, these findings indicate that MEEA may have potential cancer therapeutic utility in A549 and HepG2 cells.