Inhibitory Effects of The Flower from Abeliophyllum distichum cv. Okhwang 1 on Melanogenesis in B16 F10 Cells

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (A. distichum), endemic species of Korea, is classified according to the petals and calyx colors. Recently, A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1, which has the golden flower, designated the first official cultivar improved from A. distichum species. The study on the chloroplast genome of A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1 have been reported, but no studies on bioactivity such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer have been progressed. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibition on melanogenesis of the flower from A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1 (FAO). Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Inhibition effects on melanogenesis of FAO were confirmed by expression of tyrosinase-related proteins and mRNAs using immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that regulates both stimulation and inhibition of melanogenesis. Stimulated MITF in cellular levels increases the expressions of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 to induce melanogenesis. As a result, FAO inhibited the expression of MITF, followed by down-regulated tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, which lead to inhibit melanin overproduction. In conclusion, these results indicated that FAO reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and markedly inhibited the expression of melanin-related factors. The present study suggested providing that FAO has the potential for development as a functional cosmetic material derived from natural.