• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.938-944
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• 2005

Down-regulation of melanin synthesis is required for recovery of pigmentary disorders and it is known that direct inhibitors of tyrosinase suppress melanin synthesis. We screened several oriental medicinal plants using B16/Fl0 cells and found that the methanolic extract of Cnidii Rhizoma down-regulated melanin synthesis effectively. Although the proliferation of Bl6/Fl0 cells was decresed by the methanolic extract of Cnidii Rhizoma, it did not appear necrosis. Bl6/F10 cells incubated with the methanolic extract of Cnidii Rhizoma showed reduced pigmentation and tyrosinase activity. Western blotting revealed that the amount of tyrosinase was decreased by the methanolic extract of Cnidii Rhizoma. These results suggest that the inhibitary effect of the methanolic extract of Cnidii Rhizoma on melanogenesis is due to the suppression of tyrosinase in Bl6/F10 cells and Cnidii Rhizoma is a candidate for an efficient whitening agent.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Objectives: In order to investigate the relationship of Radix Trichosanthis components and the melanin synthesis, the author has analyzed the cell viability and tyrosinase activity, melanin content and morphologic changes in n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O fraction. Methods: At first, in order to determine the concentration of the Radix Trichosanthis component, the author investigated the viability of B16 melanoma cell. To measure the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii extracts (n-BuOH, n-Hexane, EtOAc, H2O fractions) on the viability of A549 cells, A549 cells were treated with various concentrations (from 0.5 to $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) of components of Trichosanthes kirilowii. After 24hrs, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The EtOAc components of Trichosanthes kirilowii decreased the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. H2O and n-BuOH components had no cell toxicity till $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, the n-hexane component showed minor cell toxicity at $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and the EtOAc component cell toxicity was revealed at $5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ concentration. Results: 1. The results of tyrosinase activity and the Radix Trichosanthis component; n-hexane and EtOAc components controlled it effectively; the n-BuOH components were less effective. 2. The results of melanin content analysis showed that the n-hexane and EtOAc components effectively inhibited, the n-BuOH fraction inhibited less, and H2O component didn't inhibit the terminal melanin formation. 3. In the n-BuOH and H2O component there were no changes, but in the n-hexane component the melanin content was effectively inhibited. 4. In the EtOAc fraction, although the melanin content was inhibited, the cell count was evidently suppressed, Of all of the Radix Trichosanthis components, the n-Hexane and EtOAc fractions inhibited the melanin synthesis best, but owing to its toxicity, the EtOAc components inhibited the cell count. Conclusion: The above results demonstrated that Radix Trichosanthis n-hexane fraction efficiently inhibited the tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the antimelanogenic effect of Dokhwalkisaeng-tang(Duohujisheng-tang) in B16F10 melanoma cells. Dokhwalkisaeng-tang(DKT) was used to develop the effective prescription of inhibition of melanin production. We determined inhibitory effects of DKT on melanin-release, melanin production, and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. And to explicate the action-mechanism of DKT, melanin-related gene expressions were determined using RT-PCR and real time RT PCR technique in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited melanin-release, melanin production in B16F10 melanoma cells considerably. DKT inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited the expression of PKA, PKC, MMP-2 and MITF in B16F10 melanoma cells. On the other hand, DKT increased the expression of ERK-1, ERK-2, AKT-1 in B16F10 melanoma cells. From these results, we propose that DKT may have effect on the antimelanogenesis.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.174-183
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• 2003

To obtain effective and safe topical depigmenting agents, we synthesized hydroxybenzoates, alkoxybenzoates, and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate containing a thymol moiety and screened then for high-level inhibitory activity against melanin synthesis. Among them, 5-methyl-2-(methylethyl)phenyl (2Ε)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate (Melasolv)$^{TM}$ 4h, showed the most potent depigmenting effect ($IC_{50}$/ = 10$\mu$M) with low cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$/ = 200$\mu$M). To find the inhibition mechanism of our candidate, various in vitro tests were performed such as DPPH assay, tyrosinase activity in mushroom or in culture cell and expression of tyrosinase, TRP-l and TRP-2. The result of this study suggested that 4h inhibited melanin synthesis by reducing the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-l at the transcriptional level in melan-a melanocytes.s.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.544-544
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• 2003

We investigated the inhibitory effect of whitening materials with growth factor or alone on melanomas derived from Human (B-16) and mouse (SK-MEL-31) using melanin content. Melanin content was determined by the absorbance value at 470nm per cells. we used the growth factors known as activators of Adenylate cyclase, Protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase pathway separately. In addition, we compared the action of UV-induced with non-biological growth factor with whitening materials in melanomas derived from Human and mouse. The results showed that the aspect of inhibitory effect of whitening materials on B16 and SK-MEL-31 was not different. And, the action of each growth factor involved in the differentiation and proliferation of melanoma on the inhibition of melanogenesis in B-16 and SK-MEL-31 using whitening agents showed no difference. Also, The action of UV -induced and non-biological growth factors didn't exhibit different pattern on the effect of whitening agent in B-16 and SK-MEL-31.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2021

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is a perennial plant belonging to the family Apiaceae. Its root has been utilized as a traditional medicine especially in Korea. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential use of extracts from AGN root parts as a cosmetic material. The dried AGN roots are divided into body (B), thick root (TkR), medium root(MR) and thin root (TnR) according to their diameter before cutting into medicine. B, TkR and MR of AGN are combined and used as medicinal herbs (MH). The extracts from AGN each root part (B, TkR, MR, TnR, MH) were used to test the effect on cell viability using MTS assay and to examine inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation in B16F10 melanoma cells. All extracts (50 - 200 ㎍/mL) from the each root part did not affect the cell viability. And inhibitory effect of all root extracts (200 ㎍/mL) on melanin accumulation was 12-19%. Especially, TnR showed similar inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation to MH. In addition, DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity were higher in the TnR extract compared to MH. This study showed that the TnR extract exhibit high inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation and antioxidant activity compared to MH, suggesting that TnR extract has potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.4 s.59
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• pp.219-225
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• 2006

In this study, we evaluated anti-oxidation, whitening and anti-inflammatory effects of Elsholtzia ciliata extract for use as the cosmeceuticals. Elsholtzia ciliata extracts (30, 70 and 100% methanol extract) exhibited a significant tree radical scavenging effect (up to 80% over 0.025% concentration of 30 and 70% methanol extract, over 0.01% concentration of 100% methanol extract) against DPPH radical generation and showed a significant inhibitory effect (up to 80% over 0.1% concentration) on melanin synthesis in B-16 Melanoma cells. We separated 4 fractions from Elsholtzia ciliata extract (70% methanol extract) by MPLC. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fractions showed anti-oxidation (DPPH radical scavenging activity and suppressive effect on Mn-SOD), whitening(inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis) and anti-inflammatory (suppressive effects on $IL-1{\alpha}$, IL-6, COX-2, and total NO synthesis) effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.946-951
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• 2014

Melanin plays a key role in the protection of skin from ultraviolet light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However, the ROS leading to the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA are involved in the overproduction of melanin that is known to cause melasma, age spots and freckles. Among the herb medicines, Ulmus macrocarpa used in this study was reported to contain flavonoids as a main component. The aim of this study is to investigate the whitening and anti-oxidant effects of Ulmus macrocarpa ethanolic extracts (UMEE) in B16F1 cells. UMEE below $3.12{\mu}g/ml$ did not show cytotoxicity. In an anti-oxidant experiment, UMEE showed not only high reducing power and scavenging activity on DPPH, but it was also observed that UMEE exhibit an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. UMEE did not display an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. However, UMEE inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells. In addition, UMEE reduced the expression levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which are key enzymes in melanogenesis. These results indicate that UMEE exert a whitening effect through the inhibition of both tyrosinase and TRP-2 expressions as well as anti-oxidant activity, suggesting that UMEE could have the functional potential for a whitening effect on the skin.