• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.240-253
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GalGunSeungGi-Tang (GST) on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) induced by 2,4-dintrochlorobenzone (DNCB) Methods In this study, The changes of body weight, ear weight, ear thickness, spleen weight, dorsum skin thickness, symptom score by eyesight, histological finding, proliferation rates of splenocyte in vitro and in vivo are investigated to check effects of GST. The mice are divided into four group; Normal (naive mice), Control (DW administered), GST-L (GST 500mg/Kg/day administered), GST-H (GST 1,000mg/Kg/day administered). Results GST inhibited weight of ear significantly (P < 0.05) and also thickness (P < 0.01). In addition, There are significant decrease in thickness of dorsum skin and proliferation rates of splenocyte in vivo in GST administered group. Finally, GST reduced symptom score and hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, increase of granulocyte and parakeratosis in histological finding. Conclusions These results suggest that GST can decrease symptoms of ACD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.874-879
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• 2008

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, and hyperpigmentation disorders are associated with abnormal accumulation of melanin pigments, which can be reduced by treatment with depigmenting agents. The methanol extract of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya $M_{IQ}$ showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase. The active compound was purified from the methanol extract of L. cyrtobotrya, followed by several chromatographic methods, and identified as dalbergioidin (DBG) by spectroscopic methods. The results showed that DBG exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ of $20\;{\mu}M$. The kinetic analysis of tyrosinase inhibition revealed that DBG acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor. In addition, DBG showed a melanin biosynthesis inhibition zone in the culture plate of Streptomyces bikiniensis that has commonly been used as an indicator organism. Furthermore, $27\;{\mu}M$ DBG decreased more than 50% of melanin contents on the pigmentation using the immortalized mouse melanocyte, melan-a cell.

• 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 Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.129-139
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• 2007

Many modalities of treatment for acquired skin hyperpigmentation are available including chemical agents or physical therapies, but none are completely satisfactory. The ideal depigmenting compound should have a potent. rapid and selective bleaching effect on hyperactivated melanocytes, carry no short- or long-term side-effects and lead to a permanent removal of undesired pigment. acting at one or more steps of the pigmentation process. Depigmentation can be achieved by regulating (i) the transcription and activity of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2), and/or peroxidase; (ii) the uptake and distribution of melanosomes in recipient keratinocytes and (iii) melanin and melanosome degradation and turnover of pigmented keratinocytes. One of the interesting point for development of skin whitening agent is Mitf(Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor). Mitf belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix-zip family of trabscription factors and it is crucial as it regulates both melanocyte proliferation as well as melanogenesis and is the major regulator of tyrosinase and the related enzymes (TRPs), as well as many melanosome structural proteins such as pMel17. Recently, we developed MITF-down-regulating agents from natural and synthetic sources, which have anti-melanogenic effect on in vitro and in vivo. We suggested that potent MITF-down regulating agents might be used for skin whitening cosmeceuticals.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and whitening action of Fagopyrum esculentum and F. tataricum buckwheat seeds depending on their germination time. In a previous study, we reported significant changes in sprout yield and phytochemical content in ethanol extracts from F. esculentum and F. tataricum seeds with increase in germination times. DPPH radical scavenging activities of F. tataricum increased with increasing germination time, whereas that of F. esculentum decreased. Next, we investigated anti-melanogenic activities of these species by estimation of melanin content and tyrosinase activity. Inhibition of melanin production in ${\alpha}-MSH$ (${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone)-induced B16F10 cells by extracts from these seeds were analyzed. Among the two, F. tataricum extracts were characterized by higher inhibitory activity against melanin production. In addition, when B16F10 cells were incubated with L-DOPA for detection of in situ tyrosinase activity, F. tataricum and F. esculentum extracts were observed to reduce melanin production in cells. Taken together, these results indicate that extracts from buckwheat seeds could influence cellular processes via modulation of tyrosinase activity. Hence, buckwheat seeds could be utilized as whitening agents in the cosmetic industries and as therapeutics for hyperpigmentation disorders in a clinical setting.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.104-117
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• 2002

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the skin-whitening effect of Kakamseosiokyong-san Method : We investigated that the extracts of Kakamseosiokyong-san inhibit activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme which converts 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine to dopachrom in the biosynthetic process of melanin. the UV absorbance of the extracts in the UV - A region and UV - B region was measured by UV scanning. the effect of extracts on cell viability and melanin production in cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells was measured, and cytoprotective effects of extracts on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide was measured by MTT assay Results: The extracts of Kakamseosiokyong-san inhibited activity of tyrosinase. The extracts not only showed inhibitory effects on melanin production in cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells, but also exhibited cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide, but did not showed an absorbance in the UV - A region and UV - B region. Conclusion: These results suggest that Kakamseosiokyong-san inhibit melanin biosynthesis which is involved in hyperpigmentation and could be used as a whitening agent for the skin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.439-443
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• 1997

From the root bark of Broussonetia kazinoki (Moraceae) two antioxidant components were identified. Their structures were determined as kazinol A (1) and kazinol E (2) (is oprenylated flavan and isoprenylated 1,3-diphenyl propan derivatives) by comparing NMR data with those of the reported compounds from relative plants. The antioxidant activity of 1 and 2 were monitored by the method of DPPH radical scavenging activity, whose $SC_{50}$ values were $41.4{\mu}M\;and\;33.4{\mu}M$, respectively. These compounds also exhibited inhibitory activity against tyrosinase, which is the sole key enzyme for the melanin biosynthesis and play a role in conversion of tyrosine to dopa, and dopa to dopaquinone. The antioxidant effect and the suppression of melanin biosynthesis are useful for anti-aging, increasing vitality in the incidence of major degenerative diseases, and cosmetic products in relation to hyperpigmentation.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.281.1-281.1
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• 2002

Psoralen(7H-Furo［3.2-g］ ［1］benzopyran-7-one) and angelicin(2-Oxo-[2H]- furo[2.3-h]-1-benzopyran) are angular furocoumarin with diverse photobiological effects. They are major components of Psoralea corylifolia L.(破古紙). Psoralea corylifolia L. is used for a tonic and nursing one's energy. It can be also used for loss of virility. vitiligo. a skin disease, etc.. But a well known and often appreciated side effects f psoralens is the hyperpigmentation caused by this treatment. A women who used the herbal drug-mixed-medicine named'sobaeksu' to treat her vitiligo made a complaint against the orinetal medical doctor. She complained that her skin got burned to 2nd degree by the liquid. 'sobaeksu' through a medical celtficate. So we analyzed the components of that liquid with gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectometry. It has 57.3% ethyl alcohol and two kinds of psoralens. Psoralens were psoralen and angelicin and each one of their contained quantity was 0.128mg/ml and 0.123mg/ml.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2021

Whitening agents derived from natural sources which do not have side effects are sought after. Schizophragma hydrangeoides is an edible plant that grows wild on Jeju Island. We aimed to determine whether S. hydrangeoides extracts show anti-melanogenic activity. Here, we found that 70% ethanol extracts of S. hydrangeoides leaf suppressed α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. This activity of anti-melanogenesis in B16F10 cells were investigated by determining melanin content and tyrosinase activity, and by performing western blotting. The 70% ethanol extract downregulated tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1. In addition, the n-hexane fraction of S. hydrangeoides leaf (HFSH) exhibited significant anti-melanogenic activity among the various solvent fractions tested without reducing the viability of B16F10 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that extracts from S. hydrangeoides leaf can influence cellular processes via modulation of tyrosinase activity. Hence, S. hydrangeoides can be used as a whitening agent in the cosmetic industry and as a therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation disorders in the clinic.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.982-988
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• 2022

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) has been used as preventive and therapeutic material for hyperpigmentation disorders. Previously, we isolated noble compounds including dehydroglyasperin C (DGC), dehydroglyasperin D (DGD) and isoangustone A (IAA) from licorice hexane/ethanol extracts. However, their anti-melanogenic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. The present study compared effects of DGC, DGD and IAA on pigmentation in melan-a melanocytes and human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn). DGD exerted the most excellent anti-melanogenic effect, followed by DGC and IAA at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, DGD significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro cell-free system and cell system. Western blot result showed that DGD decreased expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) in melan-a cells and HEMn cells. DGD induced phosphorylation of MITF, ERK and Akt signal pathway promoting MITF degradation system. However, DGD did not influence p38 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/CREB signal pathway in melan-a cells. These result indicated that DGD inhibited melanogenesis not only direct regulation of tyrosinase but also modulating intracellular signaling related with MITF level. Collectively, these results suggested a protective role for DGD against melanogenesis.