Abstract
To investigate whether aqueous extract from Aconitum koreanum (AEAK) effects in the process of melanin synthesis, the expression of tyrosinase-related proteins (TRPs) by immunohistochemical methods were performed in ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiated skin of guinea pig. The irradiation of UVB (60 mJ/day) was performed for 3 days and treated with AEAK for 15 days. About the color evaluation, the visual scores of UV B irradiated guinea pig with AEAK treatment were slightly lower than those in the UV B alone irradiated ones. At day 15 after UVB exposure, immunohistochemical analysis for TRPs expression were performed. The intensive expression of tyrosinase was mainly observed over epidermis with skin appendage and in the cells of dermis. Slight increase of these reaction was induced in response to UVB in the spinous and granular layer of epidermis, but similar expression in the AEAK treated guinea pig as normal one. The TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression were not detected in the skin of normal guinea pig. But intensive expression for TRP-1 and TRP-2, especially TRP-2, induced by UV B irradiation in the cells of dermis. These expressions were decreased in the AEAK treated guniea pig. Collectively, these results suggest that AEAK has a potential to inhibit synthesis through regulation of TRPs expression in the skin of guinea pig, but better understanding the function of AEAK, more research should be done in the effects of AEAK on the function of TRPs in melanogesis.