• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2008

These days there is a constant possibility of exposure to UV radiation which can cause abnormal production of melanin and result in skin disease such as hyperpigmentation and melanoma. Many materials were investigated for skin whitening and protection against UV radiation. In this study, we assessed the melanogenesis inhibitory activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Ginseng Radix Rubra) and Ginkgo (EGb 761 Ginkgo Biloba) in an attempt to develop a new skin whitening agent derived from natural products. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated for 48 hr with KRG and EGb 761. The inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was measured and related cytokines and proteins expression were also investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, we also assessed the effects of these substances on the skin of C57BL/6 mice. Cell growth, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were inhibited effectively in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with KRG and EGb 761. Moreover, tyrosinase mRNA expression was inhibited clearly and melanogenesis related proteins (MRPs) containing tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 were also reduced by KRG and EGb761, while cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In the case of UV irradiated mice, we observed induction of cytokine mRNA levels and reduction of MRPs mRNA expression. In addition, a decrease in pigmentation from treatment with KRG and EGb 761 on the skin of mice was observed. These results indicate that KRG and EGb 761 inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and have display protective activities against UVB. Therefore, we suggest that KRG and EGb 761 are good candidates to be used as whitening agents and UVB protectors for the skin.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.33 no.2 s.129
• /
• pp.130-136
• /
• 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
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.368-373
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract, known as depigmenting agent, on melanin biosynthesis in the HM3KO human melanoma cells. The inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis was identified by mushroom tyrosinase assay in vitro. To determine whether Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract suppress melanin synthesis in cellular level, HM3KO cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract and the effects on cell proliferation, melanin contents and tyrosinase activity were examined after 3 days. Treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix at various concentrations did not exhibit any change of cell viability, and increased the cell proliferation. And the water extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis is due to the suppression of tyrosinase in HM3KO cells.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.724-729
• /
• 2012

In this study, we evaluated the anti-melanogenesis effects of Caffeoylserotonin (CaS) in B16 melanoma cells. Treatment with CaS reduced the melanin content and tyrosinase (TYR) activity in B16 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. CaS inhibited the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), TYR, and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), but not TRP-2. ${\alpha}$-MSH is known to interact with melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) thus activating adenylyl cyclase and increasing intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Furthermore, cAMP activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) via phosphorylation, which phosphorylates MITF, thereby targeting the transcription factor to proteasomes for degradation. The CaS reduced intracellular cAMP levels to unstimulated levels and activated ERK phosphorylation within 30 min. The ERK inhibitor PD98059 abrogated the suppressive effect of CaS on ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis. Based on this study, the inhibitory effects of CaS on melanogenesis are derived from the downregulation of MITF signaling via the inhibition of intracellular cAMP levels, as well as acceleration of ERK activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.602-607
• /
• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.376-381
• /
• 2007

Seven compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. and their structures were identified as ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (1), (24R)-6${\beta}$-hydroxy-24-ethyl-cholest-4-en-3-one (2), acteoside (3), geniposidic acid (4), 1-octen-3-ol 3-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl$(1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (5), plantainoside D (6) and plantamajoside (7) on the spectroscopic analysis. Among them, $(24R)-6{\beta}$-hydroxy-24-ethyl-cholest-4-en-3-one (2) and 1-octen-3-ol 3-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl ($1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (5) were first isolated from this plant. Among them, geniposidic acid (4) showed the most potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis, with inhibition rate of 41%.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 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 Acupuncture
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate melanogenesis inhibition of ethanol extract of Polyporus (EP) by using B16F10 melanoma cells. Methods : We measured antioxidant effect of EP by using 1,1-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and we confirmed melanin contents and tyrosinase activity of EP in cells. Additionally, the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 was observed by Western blot. Results : EP showed significantly high radical scavenging activity and inhibition of melanogenesis in dose-dependent manner by decreasing cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content with or without α-melanin stimulating hormone. TRP-1 and TRP-2 expressions were also suppressed by EP in B16F10 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that EP inhibits the melanogenesis and it could be a new organic ingredient for hyper-pigmentation.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2022

The desire to be light skinned is universal among women. Asia has a long history of using skincare formulations as whitening agents. There is an imperative need to develop novel cosmetics from herbal sources due to several unpleasant side effects and high costs. As a result, this study aims to investigate the effect of Ceylon black tea extracts on melanogenesis. Five different Ceylon black tea extracts were prepared and examined for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, B16F10 melanoma cells were treated with these extracts and tested for cytotoxicity and protein suppression levels. According to the results of this study, the highest TPCs were obtained from ethanol and acetone extractions (240.303 ± 1.389 ㎍/g and 240.202 ± 4.700 ㎍/g, respectively), whereas the highest TFC was obtained from acetone extraction (57.484 ± 0.413 ㎍/g). Ceylon black tea extracted with ethanol exhibited the highest inhibitory activity on tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ value of 0.277 ± 0.017 mg/mL and the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with an EC₅₀ value of 0.009 ± 0.000 mg/mL. Furthermore, western blot results revealed that tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF protein expression levels were dose-dependently suppressed, indicating the applicability of Ceylon black tea extract as a novel melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.43-46
• /
• 2008

The aim of present study was to examine the inhibitory effects of hydroxamic acid derivatives on the melanogenesis. We found that hydroxamic acid moiety was important for anti-melanogenic activity. Compounds 1a and 1b strongly inhibited melanin synthesis via deactivation of tyrosinase. Hydroxamic acid has metal ion chelating ability which is similar to that kojic acid, however, anti-tyrosinase mechanism of compounds 1a and 1b was different from that of kojic acid. They showed noncompetitive inhibition kinetics