• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has been used to prolong longevity and is believed to be useful for improving skin complexion. Ginsenosides are the most active components isolated from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) in particular has been demonstrated to possess antioxidative, antitumorigenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of G-Rg3 to inhibit melanogenesis. Methods: The effects of G-Rg3 on melanin contents and the protein levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) were evaluated. Melanogenesis-regulating signaling molecules such as Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were also examined to explore G-Rg3-induced antimelanogenic mechanisms. Results: G-Rg3 was found to significantly inhibit the synthesis of melanin in normal human epidermal melanocytes and B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of cellular tyrosinase and the expression of MITF, tyrosinase, and TRP1 were all reduced, whereas ERK was strongly activated. PD98059 (a specific inhibitor of ERK) attenuated the G-Rg3-induced inhibition of melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these results showed that G-Rg3 induces the activation of ERK, which accounts for its antimelanogenic effects. G-Rg3 may be a promising safe skin-whitening agent, adding to the long list of uses of P. ginseng for the enhancement of skin beauty.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.829-834
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• 2008

This study was to investigate the effect of Ponciri Fructus ethanol extract on the melanogenesis. The Ponciri Fructus markedly decreased melanin contents of B16F10 cells at a dose of $80{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. It was observed that the color of cell pellets was totally whitened compared with the control. The treatment of Ponciri Fructus inhibited tyrosinase activity, regulate melanin biosynthesis as the key enzyme in melanogenesis. Regarding protein levels of the melanogenic enzymes, the Ponciri Fructus dose-dependently decreased tyrosinase and TRP-1 protein levels, and tyrosinase and TRP-1 were detected in similar manner. These results suggest that the Ponciri Fructus ethanol extract exerts its depigmenting effects through the suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-1.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2014

This study was aimed to investigate skin whitening effects of Nomura's jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai) hydrolyzed extracts (NHE). The extracts were prepared through the hydrolysis of N. nomurai using commercial proteolytic enzymes such as Protamex, Alcalase, Flavourzyme and Neutrase with optimum pHs (pH 5-8) at $55^{\circ}C$. Their whitening activities were examined from the inhibition of melanin synthesis using B16-F1 cell lines. Among the examined samples, Neutrase-treated extract (N-NHE) showed the most significant inhibition effect on melanin synthesis by 89.9% at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. This sample decreased the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 (tyrosinase related protein-1) proteins as well. These results suggested the potential application of NHE as whitening ingredients in cosmetic preparation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2018

In order to find new functional materials for the cosmetics application, we investigated the anti-oxidant and anti-melanogenic properties of Gentiana scabra extracts (GSE), which were prepared by the various extraction methods. Results showed that GSE had high DPPH radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, GSE inhibited the prodution of melanin in B16F10 melanoma cell as well as tyrosinase activity. We also found that GSE inhibited mRNA expression of tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and 2. In conclusion we suggest that GSE is applicable to cosmetics as a potential ingredient for their anti-oxidant and whitening effects.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.462-470
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the Nypa fruticans extracts as a cosmetic additive. The tyrosinase inhibitory effects showed 52.0% at 1,000 ㎍/mL concentration. A cell viability test, measured on melanoma cell (B16F10) hot water extract of nypa fruticans showed 84.8% at 100 ㎍/mL concentration. The protein expression inhibitory effects of nypa fruticans extracts were measured by western blot at 25, 50, 100 ㎍/mL concentration and the β-actin. Results showed that the expression inhibition rates of the MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase protein were decreased by 70.7%, 83.3%, 45.7%, 45.9% at 100 ㎍/mL concentration, respectively. It was concluded that nypa fruticans extracts had the whitening effects and thus could be applied for cosmetics as a natural ingredient.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.681-687
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• 2018

Recently, several researchers have been developing cosmetics from natural ingredients for skin whitening and anti-aging products. The red sea cucumber (RSC), Apostichopus japonicas, is a species of sea cucumber in the family stichopodiae, which is widely distributed in China, Japan, and Korea. To use Red Sea Cucumber as a cosmetic ingredient, its inhibitory effects on melanogenesis and the anti-aging effects of RSC extracts were investigated. First, a tyrosinase activity assay was performed, which showed that RSC inhibited tyrosinase activity at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$. An MTT assay was carried out to evaluate cell toxicity, and the results showed that RSC extract has no cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) genes treated with RSC extract in B16F10 and HaCaT cells decreased. Moreover, a wound-healing assay was performed to identify the cell regeneration effect of RSC extracts. Also, a skin turnover effect was confirmed by creating a three-dimensional cell culture with HaCaT and human fibroblasts. Altogether, the results suggested that Red Sea Cucumber may possess a high ability to induce whitening and anti-wrinkle effects as a cosmeceutical ingredient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.705-711
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• 2014

In order to develop a skin-whitening agent, melanin contents and intracellular tyrosinase activity were determined by western blotting. Ethyl acetate fractions of 80% ethanol extracts from lily (Lilium Oriental Hybrid 'Siberia') bulbs (R-EA) inhibited melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-treated B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. Intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin contents were suppressed by 45% and 74%, respectively, in response to treatment with $100{\mu}g/mL$ of R-EA. Examination of protein expression associated with ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis showed that tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-1 was inhibited more strongly than tyrosinase, and these results were correlated with stronger inhibition of melanin synthesis than intracellular tyrosinase activity. Taken together, R-EA containing p-coumaric acid and resveratrol could be used as a hypopigmentation agent through suppression of sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation via melanogenic induction.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2009

We found that silymarin exhibited the inhibitory effect on melanogenesis in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Silymarin is a standardized extract obtained from the dried seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum Gaertn.). Silymarin significantly prevented melanin production in a dose-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of 28.2 ${\mu}g/mL$ without effects on cell viability. Also, silymarin inhibited tyrosinase activity in melanocyte, while it did not affect the catalytic activity of cell-free tyrosinase. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated that silymarin decreased the expression of tyrosinase protein. Silybin A/B and isosilybin A/B were also able to inhibit melanin production and tyrosinase expression in protein level. Double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 2 % silymarin showed that silymarin have a significant skin whitening effect. Therefore, this study suggests that silymarin may be useful as a natural skin whitening agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to identify the whitening effect of Androsace umbellata extract. To discover the anti-pigmentation effective, we investigated Androsace umbellata extract on tyrosinase and melanogenesis inhibition. As results, it reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin contents in B16F1 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner with decreased to about 32% at a concentration of $25{\mu}g/mL$. To reveal how it works in inner-cellular level, we performed Western blot method. We found out that it also inhibited the protein expression in tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1), and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) in melanocytes. Therefore, we successfully identified the whitening effect of Androsace umbellata extract, and this finding suggested that Androsace umbellata extract is a considerable potent cosmetics ingredient for whitening. Based on this, we anticipated further researches about Androsace umbellata extract for gene levels and additional mechanisms to develop not only for functional cosmetics but for medicines or healthcare food.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-128
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• 2023

The fruit of Vaccinum oldhami was separated and purified to obtain the compounds chlorogenic acid (CA), quercetin (QT), and quercitrin (QR). The electron-donating abilities of CA, QT, and QR at 1,000 ㎍/ml were 91.9%, 89.9%, and 77.4%, respectively QT and QR showed 99.5% and 91.4% ABTS⁺ radical scavenging ability at a 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration, respectively, and CA showed a 95% ability or higher at 100 ㎍/ml. Regarding tyrosinase inhibitory activity, CA, QT, and QR exhibited 29.5%, 34.7%, and 23.7% efficacy, respectively, at 1,000 ㎍/ml. Regarding the cell viability for melanoma cells (B16F10) assessed through MTT assay, CA, QT, and QR showed cell a viability of 80% or more at 100 ㎍/ml. To measure the deterrent of protein expression, CA affected TRP-1 and TRP-2 in accordance with increases in concentration. The protein expression inhibition rate of QT was excellent for TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase. CA was confirmed to have an excellent mRNA expression inhibitory effect against MITF, and the amount of mRNA expression of TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase decreased with an increase in the CA concentration. As the concentration of QT increased, the mRNA expression of MITF, TRP-2, and tyrosinase decreased. QR decreased the amount of mRNA as the QR concentration increased. The excellent antioxidant and whitening effects of CA, QT, and QR were thus confirmed.