• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Genus Artemisia occurs as a hardy plant and has a wide range of culinary and medicinal features. In this study, we aimed to describe the melanin inhibitory activity of one Artemisia species, i.e., Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Ethanol extracts of fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.FT) and non-fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.CT) were tested for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanin pigmentation. Both extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition against ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanin formation and tyrosinase activity, without cytotoxicity. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, both extracts showed greater inhibition than kojic acid, the positive control. Protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) at the transcriptional level were determined by using real-time and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To complete the mechanistic study, presences of upstream elements of MITF, the phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (p-MEK) were confirmed by using western blot analysis. Expressions of p-TYR, p-TRP-1 and p-TRP-2, downstream factors for p-ERK and p-MITF, were translationally inhibited by both extracts. Art.EtOH.FT induced more potent effects than Art.EtOH.CT, especially signal transduction effects. In summary, Artemisia capillaris extracts appear to act as potent hypopigmentation agents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.74-79
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• 2016

Eruca sativa (known as rocket plant) is a member of the Brassicaceae, which is considered an important chemo-preventive plant family. Although Eruca sativa has positive biological effects such as antioxidant and renal protective activities, the effect of the Eruca sativa extract as a therapeutic agent for skin whitening has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the applicability of the extract of Eruca sativa as a functional materials by examining the its physiological activities. The Eruca sativa extract showed low cytotoxicity against murine melanoma B16F10 cells. At concentrations (below 100 mg/L) that showed none or little cytotoxicity, the Eruca sativa extract showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity (ID50, 17.60 mg/L). In addition, the Eruca sativa extract inhibited tyrosinase activity ($ID_{50}$, 132.54 mg/L) and decreased melanin content ($ID_{50}$, 158.90 mg/L). Finally, the treatment with the Eruca sativa extract suppressed the protein expression of tyrosinase in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggested that the Eruca sativa extract inhibited melanin synthesis by not only suppressing intracellular tyrosinase expression but also directly inhibiting tyrosinase activity. Therefore, these results indicate that the Eruca sativa extract may be an effective material for functional cosmetics such as skin whitening materials.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-157
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials by examining a variety of physiological activities with the extract of Cleyera japonica leaf. Cleyera japonica extract showed a low cytotoxicity against murine melanoma B16F10 cells. In little or no cytotoxicity at concentrations, we showed that the treatment with Cleyera japonica extract resulted in a significant increase in the DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀, 22.90 ㎎/L), similar to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀, 18.65 ㎎/L) and anti-microbial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In particular, anti-microbial activities against Gram-positive bacteria was high. These results suggest that Cleyera japonica extract could be used as a natural preservative. Additionally, Cleyera japonica extract showed the inhibition of tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀, 178.90 ㎎/L), similar to kojic acid (IC₅₀, 89.13 ㎎/L) and decreased melanin content (IC₅₀, 101.90 ㎎/L) higher than the control arbutin level (IC₅₀, 100.65 ㎎/L), especially. Therefore, these results indicate that Cleyera japonica extract may be an effective material for functional cosmetics such as skin whitening materials.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2019

Ecklonia cava is popular in Korea as a marine functional materials. E. cava is generally collected and used on the coast of Jeju Island. However, the continuous use of collected natural E. cava may be limited because difficult to secure throughout the year and may be exposed to environmental pollution. Jeju magma seawater (MSW) was known to be significant advantages such as safety, cleanness, stability, and functional improvement. Attempts have been reported on application of MSW to the culturing of macro- and microalgae and showed improved results. Thus, the objective of the present study was to explore the anti-melanogenesis activity of brown seaweed E. cava (E. cava cultured with MSW [MSWE]) extract cultured in tanks with MSW of Jeju Island to evaluate the possibility of cosmeceutical industrial application. MSWE extract showed the higher polyphenolic and dieckol contents than natural E. cava (NE) extract. Anti-melanogenesis activity of MSWE extract and NE extract are tested and compared using tyrosinase and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidation inhibition assay. MSWE extracts evidenced more effective tyrosinase and DOPA oxidation inhibition activity than that of the NE extracts and the commercial whitening agent, arbutin. MSWE extracts also markedly inhibited melanin synthesis and decreased the expression of melanogenesis-related protein in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that MSW cultivation process would be more effective in releasing bioactive compounds with whitening effect from seaweed such as E. cava at an industrial scale.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of preventing pigmentation caused by external stimuli, promoting skin regeneration and whitening of the skin composition containing complex extract of Dendrobii Caulis and Centella asiatica (CE). We evaluated cell viability, tyrosinase and melanin inhibition activity, skin irritation test, and skin moisturizing and regenerative effects using CE. As a result of the tyrosinase inhibitory activity, 100 ㎍/mL CE (35.31%) showed higher value than kojic acid (21.32%). The results of melanin synthesis inhibition in B16F10 melanoma cells after treatment with α-melanocyte stimulating hormone showed a similar level of activity to that of arbutin, indicating an excellent whitening effect. In clinical test of the skin composition containing CE, we confirmed that CE is non-irritated in human skin primary irritation test as well as have a high skin moisturizing and regenerative effect. From these results, we suggested the CE not only prevents skin damage and pigmentation caused by external stimuli but has remarkable skin brightening activity and skin regeneration effect.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2015

Herbal plant extracts are good resources to find functional compounds for cosmetic ingredient. In this study, the extract of Areca semen (A. semen) was studied for melanogenesis inhibition and antioxidant activity. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen contained phenolic contents, $301.35{\pm}0.88{\mu}g/mg$, and exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $IC_{50}$ value of $1.02{\pm}0.07{\mu}g/mg$. Further, FRAP value exhibited potent antioxidant activity with $9.07{\pm}0.36mM$. Disk diffusion assay was performed for antibacterial activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) at $80{\mu}g/mL$, whereas it showed no significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results of cell viability indicated that ethyl acetate fraction did not show cytotoxicity to B16/F1 cells at $80{\mu}g/mL$ and showed significant cytotoxicity at $100{\mu}g/mL$ of concentration and showed inhibition of melanin synthesis inhibitory, $29.78{\pm}0.31%$ at $80{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, mRNA expressions of tyrosinase and MITF were decreased after treatment with ethyl acetate fraction in a dose-dependent manner. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction of A. semen could be considered as potential as whitening agents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2019

This study evaluated the anti-oxidant and whitening effects of a 70% ethanol extract of the Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula (Nakai) (SS). At $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ concentration, the electron donating ability of this SS extract was found to be 86.21% and the ABTS+ radical scavenging ability was 97.9%. In terms of whitening activity, the tyrosinase inhibitory effect of the extract was 37%, also at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. To explore the extractefftoxicity to B16F10 melanoma cells, a 3-[4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide assay was performed. Results showed 90% or more cells remained viable at $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. A Western blot of the SS extract was used to measure microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase relate protein-2 (TRP-2), and the tyrosinase protein expression inhibitory effect at 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations; ${\beta}-actin$ was used as a positive control. Consequently, the MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and the tyrosinase protein expression inhibitory effect were seen to decrease by 34.5%, 45.6%, 58.4%, and 79.6%, respectively, at $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. These were also then measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations with GAPDH as a positive control. As a result, the SS extract was seen to decrease MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and the tyrosinase protein expression inhibitory effect by 85.4%, 67.5%, 85.2%, 67.1%, respectively at the $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. We therefore confirmed the possibility of Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula (Nakai) extract as a whitening material.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.17-26
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• 2005

Objectives : Antioxidant, Anticancer and Antibacterial Activities of Naesohwangryntang and its composition oriental medicines. Methods : We were experimented anti-oxidation effect and growth inhibition ability on cancer cells and antibacterial activity on various kinds of bacteria of skin. Results : The results were obtained as follows : Electron donating ability(EDA) of water extract Naesohwangryntang and ethanol extract Naesohwangryntang was 60% and 70% at 1000 ppm concentration. In the test of SOD-like activity, ethanol extract showed more activity with 27.4% in 700 ppm, while water extract was low in 19.6%. Clear zones formed by sample against the human skin-resident microflora indicated that anti-microbial activity of ethanol extract Naesohwangryntang was higher than that of water extract Naesohwangryntang. The growth inhibition rates of each sample on lung-cancer(A549), at 1000 ppm cancer cell was over 40%. The growth inhibition rate of the each sample melanoma-cancer(B16F10, G361), at 1000 ppm was over 80%. Conclusions : The results indicated that, ethanol extract which is superior in its anti-oxidation and antibacterial effect is useful to be applied in cosmetic industry.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Fagopyrum escuentum(FE) on the melanogenesis. To determine whether ethanol extract of FE suppress melanin synthesis in cellular level, B16F10 melanoma cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of FE ethanol extract. In the present study, the author examined the effects of FE ethanol extract on cell proliferation, melanin contents, tyrosinase activity. Cell proliferation was slightly increased by treatment with ethanol extract of FE (25-200 ${\mu}$g/ml). The ethanol extract of FE effectively suppressed melanin contents at a dose of 100 ${\mu}$g/ml. It was observed that the color of cell pellets was totally whitened compared with the control. The ethanol extract of FE inhibited tyrosinase activity, regulate melanin biosynthesis as the key enzyme in melanogenesis. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of FE exerts its depigmenting effects through the suppression of tyrosinase activity. And it may be a potent depigmetation agent in hyperpigmentation condition.