• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2023

The anti-melanogenic activity of 259 actinomycete strains was tested, and based on the results for the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity and the reduction in melanin content, Micromonospora sp. JCS1 and JCS7 were selected as the strains with the highest anti-melanogenic potential. The activity-guided fractionation of extracts from JCS1 and JCS7 led to the isolation of the dipeptides cyclo(ʟ-Phenyl alanine (Phe)-ʟ-Proline (Pro)) (1) and cyclo(ʟ-Tryptophan (Trp)-ʟ-Proline (Pro)) (2). These two compounds were tested for their inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase by monitoring ʟ-DOPA levels and melanin production. Cyclo(ʟ-Phe-ʟ-Pro) (1) and cyclo(ʟ-Trp-ʟ-Pro) (2) were thus confirmed to have the potential for use in functional whitening cosmetics containing actinomycete-derived secondary metabolites.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2022

Scrophularia koraiensis Nakai (S. koraiensis) has used its roots as traditional herbal medicine. Some research is reported to be effective in allergic inflammation and osteoporosis. In a present study, we conducted to investigate the bioactivity of the ethanol extract of S. koraiensis (ESK) on the inhibition of melanogenesis and the apoptosis of melanocytes. We analyzed Harpagoside of ESK by using LCMS and HPLC-PDA and investigated the regulation of ESK on reactive oxygen species. Also, the expressions of melanin synthesis-related factors and apoptosis-related factors were confirmed. As a result, the quantification results of quercetin and rutin in ESK were 77.2 and 7.4 mg/g. IC₅₀ on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity is 33.1 and 9.5 ug/mL. ESK attenuated not only the expression of tyrosinase, TYRP-1, TYRP-2, and MITF in melanogenesis. It is thought that ESK may be effective in the inhibition of melanogenesis through MAPK cell signaling pathway in melanocytes. These study results suggest that ESK has the ability to inhibit melanin production and induce apoptosis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.220-223
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• 2001

To determine the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity, fresh and dried mugwort, Artemisia princeps was extracted initially with water and ethyl alcohol, and subsequently with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate in that order. The highest yield was obtained from the ethyl acetate (15.2%) and hexane (15.5%) fraction of the ethanolic extract of fresh and dried mugwort, respectively. For all fractions tested, the inhibition of tyrosinase activity by fresh mugwort was higher than that of dried mugwort, and the inhibition ratio of tyrosinase activity was 98.9% in the chloroform fraction and 96.7% in the hexane fraction.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.101-107
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• 1997

Phellinus linteus was artificially cultivated in kangwon province in Korea. The air-dried phellinus linteus was frozen in liquid nitrogen tank and powdered in jar. 10g of the powder was extracted with each 200g of ethanol, methanol, distilled water and 1,3-butylene glycol/distilled water 4 hours under refluxing and then the liquidextract was concentrated under reduced pressure. As a result of analysis by high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromarography, many kinds of sugar and flavonoids were detected. Also we knew that phellinus linteus' extract had a strong UV-ray absorption. In the efficacy test for applying to cosmetics, free radical scavenging effect was confirmed. As a result, 2% of sample was the most potent inhibitory effect and the free radical savenging activity, was 0.31%. This is more effective than any other meterial. In the test of antioxidative activity against lipid autoxidation, phellinus linteus' extract had a good effect by 46% while vitamine E was 42.3%. The immunological activity of phellinus linteus was showed through the activation of macrophage cell. Actually, phellinus linteus activated macrophage function of 1.1-1.8 times including nitrite production compared to control. The whitening effect of phellinus linteus was showed through the inhibition of tyrosinase activity, melanin biosynthesis of S. bikiniensis and B-16 melanoma cells. Phellinus linteus' extract was showed strong mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.5% and inhibited melanin biosynthesis with 28mm inhibition zone at 0.005%/paper disc in S. bikinniensis, a bacterium used as an indicator organism in this work. Also it inhibited melanin biosynthesis in B-16 melanoma cells with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.134%.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has been used to prolong longevity and is believed to be useful for improving skin complexion. Ginsenosides are the most active components isolated from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) in particular has been demonstrated to possess antioxidative, antitumorigenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of G-Rg3 to inhibit melanogenesis. Methods: The effects of G-Rg3 on melanin contents and the protein levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) were evaluated. Melanogenesis-regulating signaling molecules such as Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were also examined to explore G-Rg3-induced antimelanogenic mechanisms. Results: G-Rg3 was found to significantly inhibit the synthesis of melanin in normal human epidermal melanocytes and B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of cellular tyrosinase and the expression of MITF, tyrosinase, and TRP1 were all reduced, whereas ERK was strongly activated. PD98059 (a specific inhibitor of ERK) attenuated the G-Rg3-induced inhibition of melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these results showed that G-Rg3 induces the activation of ERK, which accounts for its antimelanogenic effects. G-Rg3 may be a promising safe skin-whitening agent, adding to the long list of uses of P. ginseng for the enhancement of skin beauty.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2011-2015
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• 2015

Ginsenoside Rb2 (Gin-Rb2) was purified from the fruit extract of Panax ginseng. Its chemical structure was measured by spectroscopic analysis, including HR-FAB-MS, ¹H-NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Gin-Rb2 decreased potent melanogenesis in melan-a cells, with 23.4% at 80 μM without cytotoxicity. Gin-Rb2 also decreased tyrosinase and MITF protein expression in melan-a cells. Furthermore, Gin-Rb2 presented inhibition of the body pigmentation in the zebrafish in vivo system and reduced melanin contents and tyrosinase activity. These results show that Gin-Rb2 isolated from P. ginseng may be an effective skin-whitening agent via the in vitro and in vivo systems.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.119-131
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• 2001

Exposure of the human skin to UV-light can cause sun-tanning, photoaging and even photo-carcinogenesis. Melanin is important in protecting the skin against UV damage, but excessive or uneven melanin production can lead to the formation of freckles and aged spot. Control of hyperpigmentation is becoming even more important as aged population continues to grow. These needs led us to develop effective and safe depigmenting-agent, kojyl 3-aminopropyl phosphate (kojyl-APPA), called Whitegen. The development of whitegen was based on the fact that phosphate group of 3-aminopropyl phosphate can make kojic acid more compatible to the skin membrane and more stable. Instability of kojic acid has been a problem in cosmetic use. The insertion of phosphoester group has been recognized as a powerful tool to improve such physical properties as solubility and stability, because the phosphodiester residue is well characterized as a non-toxic moiety, having a high affinity for cell membranes. Kojyl-APPA showed no tyrosinase inhibition effect compared to kojic acid in vitro, but showed tyrosinase inhibition effect in situ. It means that kojyl-APPA is converted to kojic acid enzymatically in cells. Kojyl-APPA showed the inhibitory activity on melanin synthesis in mouse melanoma and normal humal melnaocytes and also showed long-lasting stability in comparison with its original form (kojic acid). Kojyl-APPA showed depigmenting effects when applied to UVB-induced hyperpigmentated region of guinea pig skin. Based on these results, kojyl 3-aminopropyl phosphate can be used as a safe and effective ingredient for the brightness and cleanness of skin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Cinnamomum camphora on melanogenesis. The MeOH extract of Cinnamomum camphora inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it significantly suppressed the melanin production in melan-a cells at the concentration of $100{\mu}/m{\ell}$. The MeOH extract was partitioned with ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. Among them, the BuOH soluble fraction exhibited significant inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase. In addition, the BuOH soluble fraction reduced the melanin production in melan-a cells. But, the BuOH soluble fraction had less inhibition effects on melan-a cell originated tyrosinase. So, it was performed western blotting for melanogenic proteins (tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2)) using melan-a cells. The BuOH soluble fraction inhibited the protein expression of tyrosinase at the concentration of $100{\mu}/m{\ell}$. The results suggested that the BuOH soluble fraction of C. camphora might be a potent inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.296-302
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• 2014

Saposhmikoviae Radix can treat various skin disease by anti-pruitus and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate effects of Saposhmikoviae Radix Extracts(SRE) on skin elasticity and whitening using B16F10 cell lines. In this experiment, We observed effect of SRE on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. In results, SRE treated group showed lowered proliferation rates significantly compared to non-treated group. More than SRE $125{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. SRE did not show inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activities in vitro and in B16F10 cells. Finally, SRE suppressed elastse type I and IV activities in dose-dependent manner in vitro. And SRE also slightly suppressed elastase activities in B16F10 cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that SRE can inhibit melanin synthesis and inhibt elastase activity. So, We suggest that SRE can be maintained skin elasticity or whitening.