• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

To examine the antioxidative effect and melanogenesis of Nelumbo nucifera stamen (NNS) extract on hydrogen peroxide $H_2O_2$ induced cytotoxicity in cultured human skin melanoma cells (SK-MEL-3), cell adhesion activity (CAA), tyrosinase inhibitory activity and total amount of melanin synthesis were measured by colorimetric assay. In this study, $H_2O_2$ significantly decreased CAA, and $CAA_{50}$ value of $H_2O_2$ was determined at 30 uM. In the antioxidative effect, NNS extract increased cell adhesion activity which was decreased by $H_2O_2$ induced cytotoxicity, and also, tyrosinase activity and total amount of melanin were decreased by NNS extract. These results suggested that $H_2O_2$ was highly toxic on cultured human skin melanoma cells and NNS extract showed the antioxidative and inhibitory effect of melanogenesis by the increased CAA, and the decresed tyrosinase activity and total amount of melanin synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.394-399
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• 2007

Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of Asarum sieboldii and their structures were identified as $({\pm})$-car-3-ene-2,5-dione (1), (-)-asarinin (2), (-)-sesamin (3), eucarvone (4), methyleugenol (5), ${\gamma}-asarone$ (6), pellitorine (7) and asarinol A (8) by analysis of spectral data. Among them, (-)-asarinin (2) showed the most potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis, with inhibition rate of 66%.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2121-2132
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• 2018

Abnormal melanin synthesis results in several hyperpigmentary disorders such as freckles, melanoderma, age spots, and other related conditions. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic effects of an extract from the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CE) and potential mechanisms responsible for its inhibitory effect in B16F10, normal human epidermal melanocyte cells, and human skin-equivalent models. The CE extract showed significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating, hormone-induced melanin synthesis in cells. Additionally, the CE extract exhibited suppressive effects on the mRNA and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2. The CE extract also inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase A and extracellular signal-related kinase, which function as upstream regulators of melanogenesis. Using a three-dimensional, reconstructed pigmented epidermis model, the CE-mediated, anti-pigmentation effects were confirmed by Fontana-Masson staining and melanin content assays. Taken together, CE extract can be used as an anti-pigmentation agent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate various aspects of Vitex negundo L. leaf extract, such as the antioxidative activity, tyrosinase inhibitory effects, and inhibitory activities on ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis, and active component analysis. The DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of the ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of V. negundo L. leaf extract were $14.51{\mu}g/ml$ and $13.96{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. A luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay revealed that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity ($OSC_{50}$) of the aglycone fraction of V. negundo L. leaf extract on ROS generated in an $Fe^{3+}$-$EDTA/H_2O_2$ system was the most prominent at $0.22{\mu}g/ml$. The protective effects of the extracts fractions of V. negundo L. leaf against the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were increased in a concentration dependent manner ($1{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$). In particular, there were greater protective effects of the aglycone fraction on the cellular membrane than that of the fat-soluble antioxidant (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. The inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on mushroom tyrosinase were the highest for the ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ = $48.58{\mu}g/ml$). The inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells was 41.80% at $50{\mu}g/ml$ of ethyl acetate fraction. Active component analyses by TLC, HPLC and LC/ESI-MS revealed luteolin and isoorientin. These results indicate that V. negundo L. leaf extract can be used as an antioxidant for ROS scavenging. Particularly, the luteolin and isoorientin of the ethyl acetate fraction may be applicable to new whitening cosmetics because of its inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase and ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2004

Melanin pigmentation in human skin is a major defense mechanism against ultraviolet light of the sun, but abnormal pigmentation such as freckles, liver spot could be a serious aesthetic problem. Nearly all studies are mainly concentrated on searching for the materials that have inhibitory activities on tyrosinase. In this work, to isolate phenolic compounds from Gastrodia elata, we purified the extract through solvent fractionation, column chromatography, and recrystallization. They were identified as 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 1, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane 2, gastrodin (4-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl alcohol) 3 on the base of spectroscopic evidences. In order to investigate their depigmentation effect, inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and inhibitory activity of melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells were evaluated in vitro. We have found that 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 1 and gastrodin (4- ${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl alcohol) 3 have no tyrosinase inhibitory activity, but inhibit the melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells. Tyrosinase inhibitory activities of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane 2 (IC$\_$50/ = 400 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL) and butanol fraction (IC$\_$50/ = 46 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL) were lower/higher than that of arbutin (IC$\_$50/ = 114 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL), but inhibitory activities of melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells were much higher than that of arbutin. Especially, tyrosinase inhibitory activities of isolated phenolic fraction (IC$\_$50/ = 2.37 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL) from butanol fraction was very higher than that of arbutin (IC$\_$50/ = 114 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL). Therefore, these results suggest that isolated phenolic compounds from Gastrodia elata have inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and inhibitory activity of melanin synthesis in 816 melanoma cells in vitro.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2015

As an approach to search for chemopreventive agents, we tested p-coumaric acid, 3-methoxy-p-coumaric acid (ferulic acid), and 3,5-dimethoxy-p-coumaric acid (sinapic acid) in B16/F10 melanoma cells. Intracellular melanin contents were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and cytotoxicity of the compounds were examined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. p-Coumaric acid showed inhibitory effect on melanogenesis, but ferulic acid increased melanin content, and sinapic acid had almost no effect on melanogenesis. Treatment with ferulic acid resulted in a 2 to 3 fold elevation in the production of melanin. Correlatively, cell viability decreased in a dose-dependent manner when treated with ferulic acid. However, ferulic acid did not affect the LDH release from the cells. Treatment with sinapic acid resulted in a 50~60% elevation in the release of LDH when treated with a $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentration and showed neither cytostasis nor increase of melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, p-coumaric acid inhibits melanogenesis, ferulic acid induces melanogenesis, and sinapic acid exerts cytotoxic effects in B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. The results indicate that the addition of methoxy groups to p-coumaric acid shows the melanogenic or cytotoxic effects in melanoma cells compared to the original compound. Therefore, this study suggests the possibility that methoxylated p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid can be used as a chemopreventive agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

Anoectochilus formosanus, commonly known as "Jewel Orchids", which has been used in traditional folk medicines for feber, pain, and diseases of the lung and liver in Taiwan. We artificially cultured Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet by using the bioreactor culture system for this study from Anoectochilus formosanus. Previously, several studies have been reported on pharmacological activities of lipid-metabolism, hepatoprotective activity, anti-tumor activity and immuno-stimulating effects but other efficacy were not well known as a cosmetic ingredient for skin care. In this study, we investigated the effect of melanogenesis in B16 mouse melanoma cells and lipid droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes about Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract. We report that Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract inhibits the cytoplasmic lipid droplet accumulation through adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes as well as inhibition of tyorsinase activity and melanogenesis. As a result, our findings indicate that Anoectochilus formosanus plantlet extract may be the potential natural ingredient for whitening and slimming cosmetic products.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.883-890
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the melanogenesis inhibitory effects of Rubus crataefifolius Leaf Extract (RCLE) in B16F10 melanoma cells. We examined the effects of RCLE on the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity, as well as the protein expression levels of the melanogenic enzymes TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF in α-MSH -stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. RCLE effectively inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis, suppressed the phosphorylation of PKA and CREB, and expression of MIT involved in the melanogenesis pathway, and down-regulated expression of melanogenesis related proteins. These result suggest that RCLE inhibited α-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis by suppressing MITF expression. Therefore, our study suggests that RCLE has potential as a safe treatment for excessive pigmentation or as a natural ingredient in cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.3 s.47
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• pp.415-418
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• 2004

Arbutin is a glycosylated hydroquinone found at high concentration in certain plants capable of surviving extreme and sustained dehydration. It has been reported to have an inhibitory effect of melanogenesis and to be hydrolyzed easily to yield glucose and hydroquinone by ${\beta}-glucosidase.$ While hydroquinone also has an anti-melanogenic effect, however, is carefully used as a topical whitening agent because of side effects. The present study was undertaken to examine the inhibitory effect of an whitening agent containing arbutin and ${\beta}-glucosidase$ on UV radiation induced pigmentation in human skin. Experimental subjects were UVB-irradiated on the back. UVB-irradiated areas were assigned to three groups: arbutin and ${\beta}-glucosidase$ treated group, vehicle control, and no-application control. Arbutin and ${\beta}-glucosidase$ treatment inhibited pigmentation by 50.17 percent, compared with the controls (N : 10: P<0.05). These results suggest that the whitening agent containing arbutin and ${\beta}-glucosidase$may be used as an agent to inhibit melanin formation induced by UV radiation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.990-998
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• 2021

Melanin is a natural skin pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes via a multistage biochemical pathway known as melanogenesis, involving the oxidation and polymerization of tyrosine. Melanogenesis is initiated upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, causing the skin to darken, which protects skin cells from UVB radiation damage. However, the abnormal accumulation of melanin may lead to the development of certain skin diseases, including skin cancer. In this study, the antioxidant and antimelanogenic activities of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of twenty strains were evaluated. Based on the results of 60% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, 21% 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging capacity, and a 50% ascorbic acid equivalent ferric reducing antioxidant power value, Limosilactobacillus fermentum JNU532 was selected as the strain with the highest antioxidant potential. No cytotoxicity was observed in cells treated with the CFS of L. fermentum JNU532. Tyrosinase activity was reduced by 16.7% in CFS-treated B16F10 cells (but not in the cell-free system), with >23.2% reduction in melanin content upon treatment with the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS. The inhibitory effect of the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS on B16F10 cell melanogenesis pathways was investigated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The inhibitory effects of the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS were mediated by inhibiting the transcription of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF and the protein expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF. Therefore, L. fermentum JNU532 may be considered a potentially useful, natural depigmentation agent.