• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.4 s.143
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• pp.273-277
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• 2005

In mammalian melanocytes, melanin synthesis is controlled by tyrosinase, the key enzyme in the pigment synthesis. In this study, to develop a new whitening agent, we have investigated the antioxidant and the inhibitory effect of Artemisia anomala extract on tyrosinase activity and melanigenesis in the B16/F1 melanoma cells. The inhibition ratio of tyrosinase activity of butanol fraction from A. anomala was higher than that of arbutin ($97.5{\pm}0.5%$ at the concentration of 2 mg/ml). The butanol fraction was shown scavenging activities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide anion radicals in a dose dependent manner. The highest inhibitory activity of melanogenesis was also butanol fraction ($25.0{\pm}3%$ at the concentration of $200\;{\mu}g/ml$). From these results, we suggest that the A. anomala extract might be used to be a potential agent for skin whitening.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2011

Aldose reductase (AR), the key enzyme in the polyol pathway, plays an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. None of Aldose reductase Inhibitor (ARI) has achieved worldwide use because of limited efficacy or undesirable side effects. Therefore, evaluating natural sources for ARI potential may lead to the development of safer and more effective agents against diabetic complications. Fifty two Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, twelve herbal medicines, Artemisia anomala (aerial part), Centella asiatica (aerial part), Scutellaria baicalensis (root), Senecio chrysanthermoides (whole plant), Gleditsia japonica (twig), Zizyphus jujube (twig, leaf), Citrus aurantium (fruit), Hydnocarpus anthelmintica (fruit), Potaninia mongolica (aerial part), Tribulus terrestris (fruit), Artemisia apiacea (aerial part) and Eclipta prostrate (aerial part) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against AR. Particularly, Artemisia anomala, Centella asiatica and Scutellaria baicalensis showed four times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control, 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG).