• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2019

Objectives : Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol), a natural monoterpenoid phenol, is one of the major odorant constituents found in natural essential oils of various herbal plants, such as Thymus quinquecostatus and Thymus vulgaris. Multiple biological activities of thymol, including antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, have been reported in numerous in vitro studies, and recently it was suggested that thymol may could inhibit oxidization of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to dopaquinone required in melanogenesis pathway, as an antioxidant. Methods : MTT assay was performed to test the cytotoxic effect of thymol in B16F10 cells. Inhibitory effect of thymol to tyrosinase activities were examined using both mushroom tyrosinase and intracellular tyrosinase. Expression level of tyrosinase in B16F10 cells were investigated by western blot analysis. Results : The cell viability was decreased by thymol treatment in dose-dependant manner, leading significant cytotoxicity in 500 and $1000{\mu}M$ thymol-treated groups. In the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis, administration of thymol significantly decreased extracellular (secreted) melanin content in dose-dependent manner. Cellular tyrosinase activity assay and western blot analysis of intracellular tyrosinase showed that thymol has a strong anti-melanogenic effect by inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by decreasing expression of tyrosinase that contribute to melanin synthesis in the B1610 cells. Conclusions : As the first functional study that prove anti-melanogenic effect of thymol and its underlying mechanism in the living cells, our study suggests the applicability of fragrance as the functional materials of cosmetics or health supplement, not as just an additive.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2017

A. koreanum was investigated to identify the constituents possessing whitening effects. As anti-melanogenesis activities were screened for the ethanol extract and solvent fractions, n-hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions showed the most potent activities. Three constituents were isolated from the n-Hex fraction of A. koreanum; kaurenoic acid (1), $16{\alpha}$-hydro-17-isovaleroyloxy-ent-kauran-19-oicacid (2), $16{\alpha}$-hydroxy-17-isovaleroyl-oxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (3). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on the spectroscopic data including $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectra, as well as comparison of the data to the literature values. Whitening effects were studied for the isolated compounds. Upon the anti-melanogenesis test using ${\alpha}-MSH$ stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells, the compounds 1, 2 and 3 inhibited the cellular melanogenesis and intracellular tyrosinase activities effectively. Based on these results, A. koreanum stems extract could be potentially applicable as whitening ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.70-75
• /
• 1996

DMHF (2.5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3[2H]-furanone), an antioxidative compound from the reaction of L-cysteine/D-glucose scavenged efficiently 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radicals. It exhibited an inhibitory effect on the autoxidation of linolenic acid, and the protective effect against UV cytotoxicity in cultured human fibroblast. In addition, DMHF appeared to prevent the cellular melanogenesis in the cultured murine melanoma cells more effectively than kojic acid, a well known inhibitor of melanogenesis, while the former was not so effective as the latter for the inhibition of the tyrosinase. Considering that cellular melanogenesis is a metabolic process triggered by oxidative stress, it ovas tentatively deduced that the antioxidative property of DMHF might afford the effect against cellular pigmentation by alleviating the causative stress. In toxicological tests such as irritation and sensitization, this compound turned out to be safe. The results of this study suggest that DMHF may be a novel inhibitor of melanogenesis, and that night be useful for application in cosmetics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.93-114
• /
• 2007

Vaccinium uliginosum L. (VU) is a flowering plant in the genus Vaccinium has berry fruit. This study was performed to investigate the effect of water extract of Vaccinium uliginosum L. and fractions on inhibition of melanogenesis and wrinkle formation. One hundred grams of the Vaccinium uliginosum L. was extracted with 2,000 mL of water ($90^{\circ}C$, 16h, 2 times). The water extracts were lyophilized and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ until used. Vaccinium uliginosum L. extracts showed scavenger activities on DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radical, dose dependently. And VU extract and fractions reduced melanin contents on B16F10 melanoma and inhibited the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-1) and dapachrometa utomerase (Dct, TRP-2). Moreover VU extract and fractions stimulated procollagen production and inhibited MMP-1 production in human fibroblast. And it decreased degree of wrinkle formation in hairless mouse skin that induced by DVB irradiation for 9 weeks. From the above results, it is possible that Vaccinium uliginosum L. may be developed to be the health functional food and functional cosmetics that have anti-melanogenesis and anti-wrinkle effect.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2022.09a
• /
• pp.104-104
• /
• 2022

Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lev has been reported to have some pharmacologic activities and also interested in functional cosmetics. We found that the water extract of D. morbiferus leaves significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-induced B16-F10 cells. D. morbiferus reduced melanogenesis-related protein levels, such as microphthalmia? associated transcription factor (MITF), TRP-1, and TRP-2, without any cytotoxicity. Two active ingredients of D. morbiferus, (10E)-9,16-dihydroxyoctadeca-10,17-dien-12,14-diynoate (DMW-1) and (10E)-(?)-10,17-octadecadiene-12,14-diyne-1,9,16-triol (DMW-2) were identified by testing the anti-melanogenic effects and then by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. DMW-1 and DMW-2 significantly inhibited melanogenesis by the suppression of protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic AMP (cAMP)-responsive binding protein (CREB) and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. DMW-1 showed a better inhibitory effect than DMW-2 in α-MSH-induced B16-F10 cells. D. morbiferus and its active component DMW-1 inhibited melanogenesis through the downregulation of cAMP, p-PKA/CREB, p-p38, MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase. These results indicate that D. morbiferus and DMW-1 may be useful ingredients for cosmetics and therapeutic agents for skin hyperpigmentation disorders.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot, a green alga of the Codiales family, has been reported to have several bioactive properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its antiobesity and whitening effects and their underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the antiobesity and melanogenesis inhibitory effects of C. fragile using methanol extracts of C. fragile (MECF). The results of this study revealed that MECF inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets and triacylglycerol in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was associated with the inhibition of the expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), and C/EBPβ, which function as the key regulators of adipogenesis. Also, MECF reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin content in B16F10 cells as well as the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-related transcription factor in the presence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Taken together, our findings suggest that the extract of C. fragile could be considered a promising functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of obesity and skin pigmentation in the food and cosmetic industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.131-148
• /
• 2005

This study is peformed to investigate the effect of water extract from Vaccinium uliginosum L., on melanin production in B 16 melanoma cells, procollagen production and matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) inhibition in human fibroblast cells. One hundred grams of the Vaccinium uliginosum L. was extracted with 2000 mL of water($90^{\circ}C$, 16h, 2times). The water extracts were lyophilized and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ until used. Dry weight yields of extracts of Vaccinium uliginosum L. were $3\%$(w/w). Extracts from Vaccinium uliginosum L. showed scavenger activities on DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radical. And these substances inhibited release of cyiokines from human keratinocyte after UV B exposure. Therefore we confirmed that extracts from Vaccinium uliginosum L. had antioxidative effect. These substances inhibited purified tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in B 16 melanoma cells treated/untreated IL-$1{\alpha}$. Moreover this extract stimulated procollagen production and inhibited MMP-1 production in human fibroblast cells treated/untreated IL-$1{\beta}$. Therefore we confirmed that extracts from Vaccinium uliginosum L. had whitening effect. And these substances decreased degree of wrinkle in hairless mouse skin that induced by UV B irradiation. Therefore we confirmed that extracts from Vaccinium uliginosum L. had anti-wrinkle effect. From the above results, it is possible that Vaccinium uliginosum L. may be developed to be an anti-melanogenesis agent and anti-wrinkle agent.

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

• 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

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2013

The structure activity relationship of polyhydroxylated benzamide derivatives for whitening effects was examined. The adamantyl benzamide derivatives with catechol (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) of B-ring part showed good anti-melanogenesis activity, but the inhibitory activity of mono-hydroxyphenyl (3-OH or 4-OH) or 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl substituted derivatives was decreased or lost. Therefore the catechol unit was appeared to be the crucial factor for the inhibition of melanogenesis. And the existence of 2-OH of A-ring part had minor influence on the activity, the length of carbon chain between A-ring and B-ring was also not the major factor for the anti-melanogenesis activity.