• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.704-712
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• 2022

Research on whitening materials using natural alternatives is actively being conducted. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of Ranunculus chinensis Bunge (RCB) on melanogenesis and associated enzymes, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. We found that RCB extract significantly attenuated melanin synthesis and reduced the activity of intracellular tyrosinase, a rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. Western blot analysis showed that RCB extract decreased the protein expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In addition, it significantly decreased the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a key regulator of melanogenesis. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation has been reported to be involved in the inhibition of melanogenesis. Thus, we investigated whether the hypopigmentary effects of RCB extract were related to the activation of ERK. RCB extract induced ERK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited body pigmentation in a zebrafish model. Our results suggest that RCB extract inhibits melanogenesis by activating ERK pathway-mediated suppression of MITF and its downstream target genes, including tyrosinase. Therefore, RCB extract can be used as a whitening agent in the development of functional cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2007

We examined the depigmentation effect on Korean traditional citrus 17 species. With B16 melanoma cells, we have seen inhibition of the tyrosinase and melanin formation, which eventually were dose dependently decreased by three citrus fruits, immature Citrus unshiu, Citrus hassaku, and Citrus sinensis ${\times}$ reticulata as compared with positive control. Also, we examined expression of tyrosinase, DOPAchrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and DHICA oxidase (TRP-1) which affect melanin synthesis. Especially, immature Citrus unshiu decreased the protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In conclusion, immature Citrus unshue showed the strongest activity in all the experiments mentioned above and we expect that it can be used for preventing UV-induced pigmentation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.438-443
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• 2017

The biological activity of crude polyphenol fractions (WphF, EphE, VphF, and SphF) extracted from Cedrela sinensis using hot water, ethanol, and enzymes such as Viscozyme and Shearzyme was examined in this study. The yield of VphF was the highest (43.44%) among all fractions. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the fractions were highest after ethanol extraction (447.98 and 337.49 mg/g, respectively). Fractions obtained after hot water and ethanol treatment showed high antioxidant activity. All fractions, except for WphF, showed a significantly higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the acarbose. EphF and WphF showed the high acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity. All fractions showed more than 50% tyrosinase inhibition activity at 2 mg/mL concentration. According to these results, the crude polyphenol fractions from C. sinensis showed high antioxidative, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. This study suggests that crude polyphenol fractions from C. sinensis, especially the WphF and EphF fractions, are good sources of functional food.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2002

Caesalpinia sappan L. has long been commonly used as emmenagogue, analgesic, and a cure for contusion and sprain as well as a remedy for thrombosis in the Oriental medicine. The main constituent of C. sappan is brazilein, which is an antioxidative substance that has a flavonoid structure. In this study, we examined the effect of butanol extract of C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apotosis. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest, not due to the cell death induced by cytotoxicity. We also estimated total melanin contents as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells. Our result showed that the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity were decreased in butanol extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. In conclusion, it was observed that butanol extract of C. sappan inhibited melanization of these cells and therefore butanol extract could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the melanogenesis inhibitory activity of epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG) isolated from Polygonum amphibium L. ECG was isolated from the ethanol extract of P. amphibium L, and its chemical structure was determined using spectroscopic methods such as LC-ESI-MS, 1D-NMR, and UV spectroscopy. ECG inhibited the melanogenesis of B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, it decreased the melanin content by 27.4% at 200 µM concentration, compared with the control, in B16F10 cells, without causing cytotoxicity. It is noteworthy that the expression of three key proteins, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), involved in melanogenesis, is significantly inhibited by ECG. The ECG isolated in this study caused the inhibition of body pigmentation and tyrosinase activity in vivo in the zebrafish model. These results suggest that the ECG isolated from P. amphibium L. is an effective anti-melanogenesis agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2017

This study examined the anti-inflammatory and whitening effects of Amaranth (Amaranthus spp L.) seed extract. Amaranthus spp L. seeds were extracted using 70% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, dichloromethan, ethyl acetate and butanol. For the study of anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds significantly inhibited nitrogen oxide production as well as the protein level of iNOS. Furthermore, EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds inhibited expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, PGE2 and the protein level of COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Inaddition, the tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the Amaranthus spp L. seed 70% ethanol extract and subfractions were also measured to see if these extracts can be used as an ingredient for whitening cosmetics. Tyrosinase is an oxidase that is a rate-limiting enzyme for controlling the production of melanin. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have become increasingly important in cosmetics and medical products with regards to hyperpigmentation. EtOAc fraction of Amaranthus spp L. seeds showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. This activity was more potent than that of a positive control cynandione A. These results suggest that Amaranthus spp L. seeds may be a valuable natural ingredient for the food and cosmetics industries.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2022

In this study, we prepared two extracts using 1,3-butylene glycol (DBG) and ethanol (DET), with Diospyros kaki and determined the anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and whitening effects in vitro. Anti-oxidant activity was measured by DPPH and superoxide dismutase (SOD) method, and as a result, both DBG and DET extracts confirmed their anti-oxidant properties by exhibiting significant DPPH scavenging and SOD-like activities. For anti-aging activity, we measured elastase and hyaluronidase inhibition, and the inhibition of MMP-1 expression. Both DBG and DET significantly inhibited elastase and hyaluronidase activities dose-dependently, and MMP-1 expression was also reduced in both extracts. We also measured the whitening effects with tyrosinase activity and melanin production, but only DBG showed a decrease in tyrosinase. In summary, D. kaki extract has strong antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening functions, and it is believed that it can be used as a cosmetic material in the future.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.553-557
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• 2009

Root extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai were tested to see the possibility for functional cosmetic agents. From ethanol extraction method, 97% of decursin and decursinol angelate was obtained, and concentration ratio of decursin to decursinol angelate was about 3:2. To test possibility as a functional cosmetic agent, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, UVA/B absorption, tyrosinase inhibition assay, melanogenesis inhibition assay, elastase inhibition assay and MTT assay were done. Root extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai showed $45.2{\pm}3.9%$ tyrosinase inhibition of tyrosine, and $24.2{\pm}12.0%$ melanin inhibition at $15{\mu}g/ml$ extract concentration, so that it indicated good whitening effect. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was $40.9{\pm}9.1%$ at $240{\mu}g/ml$ concentration, which is relatively good. Anti-wrinkle effect was poor such that it was $12.7{\pm}6.8%$ at $100{\mu}g/ml$. UVA/B absorption was also negligible. From the research, root extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai showed good potential as a whitening agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2015

Fucoidan, a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed in the class Phaeophyceae, has been widely studied for its possible health benefits. However, the potential of fucoidan as a possible treatment for hyperpigmentation is not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of fucoidan on melanogenesis and related signaling pathways using Mel-Ab cells. Fucoidan significantly decreased melanin content. While fucoidan treatment decreased tyrosinase activity, it did not do so directly. Western blot analysis indicated that fucoidan downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and reduced tyrosinase protein expression. Further investigation showed that fucoidan activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, suggesting a possible mechanism for the inhibition of melanin synthesis. Treatment with PD98059, a specific ERK inhibitor, resulted in the recovery of melanin production. Taken together, these findings suggest that fucoidan inhibits melanogenesis via ERK phosphorylation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2001

No Abstract. See Full-text