• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2009

In order to investigate the potential of a Dayflower (Commelina communis L.) extract as an active in gredient for whitening cosmetics, we prepared aqueous Commelina communis L. extract We measured its mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity, cellular tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells. It did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay using mouse B16-F10 melanoma cell, it suppressed melanin production up to 32% at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}/mL$ without cytotoxicity, and also reduced cellular tyrosinase activity to above 50 % above the concentration of $250{\mu}g/mL$. In study on the melanogenic protein expressions, it had especially influence on expression of tyrosinase protein, which is a well-known key protein on melanogenesis, and tyrosinase expression was gradually decreased in a dose-dependent. Dayflower also blocked N-glycosylation of TRP-2, but affected on the expression of TRP-1 rather than on blocking of N-glycosylation processing. Therefore, this result suggests that aqueous Commelina communis L. extract could be used as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics.