• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.130-136
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• 2002

Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. The heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan L.(C. sappan) has long been commonly used in Oriental folk medicines to promote blood circulation, and as an emmenagogue, analgesic or anti-inflammatory agent as well as a remedy for thrombosis. From the heartwood, many constituents have been purified and among them, brazilin and hematoxylin are two of the most abundant. This present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of butanol extract from C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. After 48 h treatment of these cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, of melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. The melanin content and tyrosinase activity were deσeased in extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. The butanol extract also resulted in a decrease of melanin content in ${\alpha}-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone (MSH)-induced melanogenesis, indicating that butanol extract of C. sappan could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2013

Objective: Recently the demands for the effective and safe depigmentative and anti-aging agents of the skin have increased due to the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic reasons. The purpose of this study is to investigate the MKG(Methanol Extract of Kaempferia galanga) and their dermal bioactivity properties related to cosmeceuticals such as depigmentation. Methods: We assessed inhibitory effects of MKG on melanin production in B16/F10 melanoma cells, on mushroom tyrosinase activity, effects of MKG on the expression tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, GSK-$3{\beta}$, CREB, MITF in B16/F10 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity range. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tyrosinase activity was assessed using by DOPA staining, western-blot analysis. We measured inhibition of melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by down-regulation of melanogenic enzyme expressions in ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis B16/F10 melanoma cells. Results: MKG inhibited tyrosinase-activity, total melanin contents and dendrite out-growth. MKG inhibited melanogenesis by down-regulation of tyorsinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, CREB, and MITF in B16/F10 cells. The treatment with MKG at the 12.5, $25{\mu}g/ml$ level significantly inhibited the melanin synthesis induced ${\alpha}$-MSH in B16/F10 melanoma cells compared with untreated control. Conclusion: These results suggest that MKG inhibit melanin biosynthesis which is involved in hyper-pigmentation. So MKG is considered to be used as a whitening components reducing cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.574-580
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• 2009

Melanogenesis is induced mainly by ultraviolet radiation of sunlight and ${\alpha}$-Melanocyte stimulation hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) which binds to a specific G protein coupled receptor. ${\alpha}$-MSH and cAMP-elevating agents are known to melanin syntheisis and dendrite outgrowth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of melanogenesis inhibition in B16/F10 cells by ethanol extract of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba. In the present study, ${\alpha}$-MSH led to a stimulation of melanin synthesis that appeared to result from an increased tyrosinase activity and melanin content. However, the ethanol extract of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba inhibited the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced tyrosinase activity and melanin content. In control conditions, B16/F10 cells displayed a fibroblastic appearance while ${\alpha}$-MSH treatment promoted the emergence of small and numerous dendrites from the plasma membrane. The ethanol extract of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba abolished the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced dendricity. Regarding protein levels of the melanogenic enzymes, the amounts of tyrosinase were increased after incubation with ${\alpha}$-MSH. The treatment of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba ethanol extract decreased the ${\alpha}$-MSH expression levels of tyrosinase. Based on these findings, it is likely that the ethanol extract of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba exerts its depigmenting effects in B16/F10 cells through the suppression of tyrosinase expression, which are key enzymes for melanogenesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2019

This study aims to evaluate the effects of Shengmaisan (SMS) and three types of ShengmaisanJiaweifang on the inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells, the mechanism of action through tyrosinase, and the antioxidant effect through superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In this study, we used ShengmaisanJiaweifangs (SMS, SMSRR, SMSAD, SMSAR) to research the whitening effects in B16F10 cell lines. Shengmaisan (SMS) was a herbal medicine composed of Ginseng Radix, Liriopis Tuber, and Schisandrae Fructus. ShengmaisanJiaweifangs included SMSRR (SMS added with Rehmanniae Radix), SMSAD (SMS added with Asparagi Radix) and SMSAR (SMS added with Astragali Radix). We measured the cell viability, the inhibition rate of the melanin biosynthesis, and the activity of tyrosinase and SOD in malignant melanoma, B16F10 cells, to survey the whitening effect and the mechanism of the impact on the sample. As a result, SMSRR significantly suppressed the cell viability of B16F10 at more than $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and significantly inhibited the generation of melanin induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH at more than $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. SMSRR ($500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) decreased the activity of tyrosinase while increased the activity of SOD. Therefore, we considered that the SMSRR would be able to produce high value-added products more SMS if used as a commercial.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2013

In order to develop new skin whitening agents, we prepared the EtOAc layer (AJE) after enzyme treatment of 75% EtOH extract of the Alnus Japonica Steud. We measured their tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16-F1 melanoma cells. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay, AJE suppressed melanin production up to 52% at a concentration of $40{\mu}g/mL$. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of AJE on melanogenesis, we measured expression of melanogenesis-related proteins by the western blot assay. As a result, AJE suppressed the expression of tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1) and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF). Moreover, AJE increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). These results conclude that ERK activation by AJE reduces melanin synthesis via MITF downregulation and is subsequent to the inhibition of TRP-1 expression. Therefore, we suggest that AJE could be used as active ingredients for skin whitening.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Objective : Paeoniae radix alba(PRA) can enrich the blood and regulate menstruation, astringe yin and arrest sweating, calm the liver and arrest pain. This study was designed to investigate effects of PRA on skin whitening and elasticity using melanoma cells. Methods : In this experiment, effect of PRA on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. Results : 1. More than $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PRA treated group showed lowered proliferation rates significantly compared to non-treated control group. 2. All of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. 3. PRA did not show inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activities in vitro. But, PRA suppressed tyrosinase activities in B16F10 cells significantly. 4. PRA suppressed elastse type 1 activities in dose-dependent manner in vitro. But, PRA slightly suppressed elastase type 4 activities in vitro, and PRA also slightly suppressed elastase activities in vivo. Conclusion : These results suggest that PRA can inhibit melanin synthesis through ihhibitory action on tyrosinase activity and inhibt elastase activity, and also suggest that these results can be used for the study on maintaining skin whitening or elasticity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2011

Novel tyrosinase inhibitors are important for pigmentation in the skin. Following extraction of tyrosinase inhibitors from edible vegetables or fruits, we found that the Prunus persica flesh extract (PPFE) exhibited potential inhibitory activity for melanogenesis. PPFE showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity in an enzymatic assay and PPFE also significantly inhibited the melanin formation in cultured mouse melan-a cells. Moreover, real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that the inhibition of melanin production by PPFE was closely related to marked suppression of mRNA expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 and -2 (TRP-1 and TRP-2) in melan-a cells. Further investigation found that the modulation of tyrosinase expression by PPFE was associated with the transcriptional regulation of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). PPFE inhibited the promoter activity of MITF and suppressed MITF mRNA expression in melan-a cells. These results indicate that PPFE down-regulates melanogenesis-associated gene expression through MITF-mediated transcriptional regulation and these events might be related to the hypopigmentary effects of PPFE.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

The suitability of CPWs, by-products of the juice industry, was investigated as a source for the production of cosmeceuticals. Four kinds of CPWs, CW, CWE, CWER, and CWEA, were examined for their antioxidant potentials in terms of DPPH radical-scavenging ability for anti-wrinkle applications, inhibition of tyrosinase or melanin production for whitening products, and anti-inflammatory effects to treat various skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne as well as for anti-bacterial activity against acne-inducing pathogens. Of the four extracts, CWER was the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor ($IC_{50}$ value: $109\;{\mu}g/mL$), and CWEA ($IC_{50}:\;167\;{\mu}g/mL$) showed good antioxidative effects. CWE and CWEA samples had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the melanin production. The cytotoxic effects of the four CPWs were determined by colorimetric MTT assays using human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Most extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest CPWs are attractive candidates for topical applications on the human skin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2002

Quercetin is one of the bioflavonoid compounds and has multiple biological effects such as antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agent. Melanin has an important role in protecting human skin from the damaging effects of ultra-violet W) radiation. We studied the effect of quercetin on proliferation of B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with quercetin, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptosis. Therefore, the decrease in cell numbers may be due to cell growth arrest, not due to cell death by cytotoxicity. We also investigated the effect of quercetin on melanogenesis of this cells. B16/F10 melanoma cells were grown for 48h in the presence of 0.01~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml quercetin and the total melanin contents were measured. Quercetin stimulated melanization of the cells in low concentrations (0.01~20$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), whereas it inhibited melanization in high concentrations (30~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). It was observed that quercetin differently regulates melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells dependent on its concentrations.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.371-376
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• 2008

In this study, we have investigated the hypo-pigmentary mechanism of methanol extract of Forsythiae Fructus in human melanocyte cell line, HM3KO. Treatment of HM3KO cells with Forsythiae Fructus extract markedly inhibited melanin biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Decreased melanin contents occurred through the decrease of tyrosinase protein and activity. The mRNA levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) were also reduced by Forsythiae Fructus extract. Moreover, the level of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) was significantly decreased by treatment of Forsythiae Fructus extract. These results suggest that Forsythiae Fructus reduces melanin synthesis by down regulation of tyrosinase mRNA transcription, and this is closely related to the cAMP-dependent pathway.