• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2010

Juglans mandshurica belongs to the family Juglandaceae is known to contain a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, astringent, and anti-human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1). Melanogenesis refers to the biosynthesis of melanin pigment in melanocytes. In this study, to investigate the whitening activity of the extracts from Juglans mandshurica, we measured effects on a tyrosinase activity, a melanogenesis, and a tyrosinase synthesis in the B16/BL6 melanoma cells and an antioxidant activity. The extracts significantly scavenged a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and a superoxide anion radicals in a dose-dependent manner with a $SC_{50}$ value of $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $25\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Also, the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis were significantly inhibited by the extracts. Furthermore, the synthesis of tyrosinase protein was significantly decreased by the extracts in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 2% of the extracts showed that the extracts have a significant skin whitening effect. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the extracts from Juglans mandshurica may be useful as a potential agent for skin whitening.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2016

Anti-melanogenic effects of amaranth (AT), one of the key source of squalene, were investigated in melanocytes. Amaranth seed powder was extracted with water and melan-a cells were treated with various concentrations of AT. By using HPLC, content of myo-inositol, one of potential active components, was measured in the crude extract of AT.AT reduced the melanin content in melan-a melanocytes and down-regulated melanogenic enzyme activity such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. By regulating melanogenic enzyme activity, AT may be a potential natural source for whitening agent. Myo-inositol was detected in AT by HPLC and may be one of the active compounds from AT involved in the regulation of anti-melanogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that AT has anti-melanogenesis properties. This new function of amaranth may be useful in the development of new skin-whitening products and its value as food.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2018

The Rosa multiflora, a well-known plant belonging to Rosacea, is widely used in orthodox medicine in worldwide. However, its biological activity as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products have not yet been studied. Accordingly, an investigation of the above mentioned atrributes was performed on a 50% ethanol extract of Rosa multiflora. The antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH. Additionally, the contents of total phenols and flavonoids were analyzed. Also, the phenolic compounds were detected using HPLC. The melanogenesis regulatory effect was evaluated using melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. The elastase inhibitory activity assay was performed for anti-wrinkle effect. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion assay. The DPPH radical scavenging ability, denoted by the $SC_{50}$ value was found to be $123.1{\mu}g/ml$, whereas that of positive control (ascorbic acid) was $27.5{\mu}g/mL$. The content of total polyphenol and flavonoid content were 202 mg/g and 86.77 mg/g, respectively. In addition, astragalin and gallic acid were identified in the extract. Also, the ethanol extract significantly inhibited ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. For anti-wrinkle effect, elastase inhibition activity of the ethanol extract was 53.2% at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. The antimicrobial activity of the extract against S. aureus and E. coli was observed to be 0.5 - 5%, and no significant activity was noted against C. albicans. Therefore, the ethanol extract of Rosa multiflora can be used effectively for development of functional cosmetic materials.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2014

Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits and leaves which are considered for its medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-melanogenesis of ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves in B16 cells. The order of the total polyphenol content with regard to the different solvent fractions from D. lotus leaves was EA>butanol>metahanol>chloroform>n-hexane. The major compounds of EA fraction from D. lotus leaves by HPLC analysis were myricitrin and myricetin. Cellular TYR activity and melanin content in response to treatment with 100 mg/mL of EA fraction was inhibited more strongly than group treated with arbutin. Further, EA fraction exhibited significant anti-melanogenesis effects by reducing the levels of microphthalima-associated transcription factor (MITE), inhibiting the synthesis of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2. Therefore, EA fractions from D. lotus leaves may be a good source of skin-whitening agents in the future development of medicine-based trouble skin therapy.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2013

The structure activity relationship of polyhydroxylated benzamide derivatives for whitening effects was examined. The adamantyl benzamide derivatives with catechol (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) of B-ring part showed good anti-melanogenesis activity, but the inhibitory activity of mono-hydroxyphenyl (3-OH or 4-OH) or 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl substituted derivatives was decreased or lost. Therefore the catechol unit was appeared to be the crucial factor for the inhibition of melanogenesis. And the existence of 2-OH of A-ring part had minor influence on the activity, the length of carbon chain between A-ring and B-ring was also not the major factor for the anti-melanogenesis activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

This study describes the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and melanogenesis inhibition activities of methanol extract and various organic solvent fractions of Arecae Pericarpium. We examined the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging activity, mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity and melanin contents. The study showed that, among all tested fractions, methylene chloride fraction showed the strongest inhibition of LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}$ value $8.89{\mu}g/mL$) and DPPH radical scavenging activity ($EC_{50}$ value $21.39{\mu}g/mL$). Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions similarly inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity. Methanol extract exhibited strongest reduction of melanin content in B16F10 melanoma cells. Based on the bioactivity assay results, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions were further separated. Eight phenolic compounds were isolated, which are dimeric syringol (1), catechol (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), vanillin (4), 4-hydroxyacetophenone (5), apocynin (6), protocatechuic acid (7) and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (8). Among the isolated compounds tested, catechol showed the strongest inhibition of LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Catechol also showed the concentration-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibition activity. Arecae Pericarpium might have potentials to be developed as anti-inflammatory agent or dermatological product for skin-whitening agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.19-25
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• 2019

Objectives : Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol), a natural monoterpenoid phenol, is one of the major odorant constituents found in natural essential oils of various herbal plants, such as Thymus quinquecostatus and Thymus vulgaris. Multiple biological activities of thymol, including antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, have been reported in numerous in vitro studies, and recently it was suggested that thymol may could inhibit oxidization of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to dopaquinone required in melanogenesis pathway, as an antioxidant. Methods : MTT assay was performed to test the cytotoxic effect of thymol in B16F10 cells. Inhibitory effect of thymol to tyrosinase activities were examined using both mushroom tyrosinase and intracellular tyrosinase. Expression level of tyrosinase in B16F10 cells were investigated by western blot analysis. Results : The cell viability was decreased by thymol treatment in dose-dependant manner, leading significant cytotoxicity in 500 and $1000{\mu}M$ thymol-treated groups. In the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis, administration of thymol significantly decreased extracellular (secreted) melanin content in dose-dependent manner. Cellular tyrosinase activity assay and western blot analysis of intracellular tyrosinase showed that thymol has a strong anti-melanogenic effect by inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by decreasing expression of tyrosinase that contribute to melanin synthesis in the B1610 cells. Conclusions : As the first functional study that prove anti-melanogenic effect of thymol and its underlying mechanism in the living cells, our study suggests the applicability of fragrance as the functional materials of cosmetics or health supplement, not as just an additive.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2012

Nuruk contributes to the unique characteristics of Korean alcoholic beverages. In this study, the effects of nuruk extracts (NE) on anti-oxidant characters, melanogenesis, and anti-photoaging activity were investigated. NEs were obtained from the 70% ethanol extracts of six types of nuruk, which have been used in brewing of fermented alcohol beverages in Korea. First, various antioxidant characteristics were identified in terms of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiozoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression, and inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. NE#4 exhibited potent ABTS radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ = 19.51 ${\mu}g$/mL). Compared with NE#4, relatively lower levels of activity were observed for NE#3 and NE#6, with $IC_{50}$ values of 90.99 and 76.88 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. According to results of western blot analysis for determination of SOD expression in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells, NE#5 and NE#6 induced a dramatic increase in the expression ratio of SOD, compared to the group treated with $H_2O_2$ only. Activity of xanthine oxidase, which converts xanthine into uric acid, generating superoxide ions, was inhibited by NE#4 and NE#6 in a dose-dependent manner. NE#4 induced significant inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity. A reduction in cellular melanin contents of 80% was observed in B16F1 melanocytes treated with NE#5 and NE#6; these effects were similar to those of arbutin at 100 ${\mu}M$. In addition, gelatin zymography and reverse transcription-PCR analysis were performed for assessment of anti-photoaging activity of Nuruk. Treatment with NE#6 resulted in dramatically inhibited activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9, suppressed expression of MMP-1, and increased expression of type-1 procollagen. Results of gelatin zymography for NE#4 and NE#5 were similar, to a slightly lesser degree. These results suggest the potential of NE#4 and NE#6 as natural ingredients for use in functional foods and cosmetics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2016

Sargassum micracanthum (SM) is a member of the family Sargassaceae and commonly occurs along the coast of Korea. Extracts from SM were evaluated for their antioxidant and collagenase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities based on their total phenolic concentration (TPC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect, and metal-chelating effect. The TPC of SM ethanol and water extracts used in the study was 11.20 and 11.70 mg/g of dry sample, respectively. Both SM ethanol and water extracts had high DPPH radical-scavenging effect. The metal-chelating effect of SM ethanol extract (40.47% at 0.5 mg/ml) was higher than that of water extract (23.28% at 0.5 mg/ml). With regard to the anti-wrinkling effect, SM ethanol extract showed collagenase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $488.20{\mu}g/ml$. Lastly, regarding the anti-melanogenesis effect, SM ethanol extract showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity (45.08% at 5 mg/ml) than that shown by the water extract (21.29% at 5 mg/ml). These results suggest that SM has the potential to be a resource with natural anti-melanogenesis, anti-wrinkle, and anti-oxidant effects.

• 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.