• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.196-203
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• 2005

Gunggui-tang has been used for the therapy of blood disorders in Hangbang medicine for long time. Also, Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been used for deficientblood patterns with an irregular pulse or palpitations, coughing and wheezing, and heat or cold in the lungs. Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments. We investigated whether the water extract of Gunggui-tang plus G. uralensis inhibited melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. Because the molecular events connecting the regulation in tyrosinase activity remain to be elucidated, we also aimed to determine whether Gunggui-tang gamibang(GTG) affects tyrosinase at the gene activation level in the cells. First, we showed that GTG inhibited the tyrosinase promoter activity and further, down-regulated the tyrosinase protein activity in ${\alpha}-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone $({\alpha}-MSH)-treated$ B16 melanoma cells. GTG also resulted in a decrease of melanin content in MSH-induced melanogenesis, indicating that GTG may be a useful drug in studying the regulation of melanogenesis. The pretreatment of GTG significantly prevented phosphotransferase activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) and transcriptional activation of activating protein-1 (AP-1) in MSH-treated B16 melanoma cells. These findings indicate that GTG inhibits melanogenesis of B16 melanoma cells via suppression of phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 and transcriptional activation of AP-1.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2006

Objective : This research was carried out for the development of medicine for vitiligo treatment and focused on the effect of Hominis Placenta extract on Melanin synthesis of B16 melanoma cells. Methods : Acitivity of tyrosinase playing a vital role in synthesis of Melanin and the quantity of Melanin, which is the final product in cultured B16 melanoma cells, effects of Hominis Placenta extract were measured. Results: The results indicated that Hominis Placenta extract increased both the amount of Melanin and the activity of tyrosinase according to the concentration, and they also supported by western blot analysis. Conclusion : The results suggests that Hominis Placenta extract has an advantageous effect on the promotion of Melanin synthesis and will contribute to the development of vitiligo treatment through further related studies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.55-65
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was carried out for the development of medicine for vitiligo treatment and focused on the effect of Psoraleae fructus extract on melanin synthesis of B16 melanoma cells. Methods : Activity of tyrosinase playing a vital role in the synthesis and quantity of melanin, which is the final product in cultured B16 melanoma cells, the effects of Psoraleae fructus extract were measured. Results : The results indicated that Psoraleae fructus extract increased beth the amount of melanin and the activity of tyrosinase according to concentration, also supported by western blot analysis. Conclusions : The results suggest that Psoraleae fructus extract has an advantageous effect on the promotion of melanin synthesis and will contribute to the development of vitiligo treatment through further related studies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 2008

Objective : This research was carried out to compare the effect of Gorynju and a Soju extract Psoraleae fructus on melanin synthesis of B16 melanoma cells. Methods : To investigate melanin synthesis of B16 melanoma cells, this research was measured cell survival, tyrosinase activity, melanin synthesis, western blot. Results : Both Gorynju and Soju extract Psoraleae fructus, cell toxicity depended on the density. Tyrosinase activity depended on the density of Gorynju extract Psoraleae fructus and statistic was showed significant(0.5, 1, 2, 3 ${\mu}g/ml$), in a Soju extract Psoraleae fructus, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ were showed significant. Melanin synthesis was showed significant in a Soju extract Psoraleae fructus(3, 4 ${\mu}g/ml$). Western blot was showed to depend on the density of Gorynju and a Soju extract Psoraleae fructus. Conclusions : In a tyrosinase activity and a melanin synthesis, the intermediate alcohol of Gorynju and a Soju may be suitable to use.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.398-403
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• 2003

To investigate the relationship between structure and biological activity of phenylpropanoids, we measured effects of phenylpropanoids on anti-oxidant and whitening activity, In DPPH radical scavenging activity, caffeic acid analogues showed the significant anti-oxidant activity. Although phenylpropanoids did not inhibit purified-tyrosinase activity, they significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin production in MSH-stimulated B16 melanoma cells. However, phenylpropanoids did not affect tyrosinase expression in MSH-stimulated B16 melanoma cells, which suggest that inhibition of MSH-induced melanin production was due to tyrosinase inhibition mediated via other signal pathways but not expression of tyrosinase. Phenylpropanoids also significantly inhibited both hyaluronidase and elastase activity, suggesting that phenylpropanoids may be used as whitening, hydration and anti-wrinkling agents. Hydroxyl residue of aromatic ring in phenylpropanoids plays an important role in anti-oxidant and whitening activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2013

Objective: Recently the demands for the effective and safe depigmentative and anti-aging agents of the skin have increased due to the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic reasons. The purpose of this study is to investigate the MKG(Methanol Extract of Kaempferia galanga) and their dermal bioactivity properties related to cosmeceuticals such as depigmentation. Methods: We assessed inhibitory effects of MKG on melanin production in B16/F10 melanoma cells, on mushroom tyrosinase activity, effects of MKG on the expression tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, GSK-$3{\beta}$, CREB, MITF in B16/F10 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity range. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tyrosinase activity was assessed using by DOPA staining, western-blot analysis. We measured inhibition of melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by down-regulation of melanogenic enzyme expressions in ${\alpha}$-MSH induced melanogenesis B16/F10 melanoma cells. Results: MKG inhibited tyrosinase-activity, total melanin contents and dendrite out-growth. MKG inhibited melanogenesis by down-regulation of tyorsinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, CREB, and MITF in B16/F10 cells. The treatment with MKG at the 12.5, $25{\mu}g/ml$ level significantly inhibited the melanin synthesis induced ${\alpha}$-MSH in B16/F10 melanoma cells compared with untreated control. Conclusion: These results suggest that MKG inhibit melanin biosynthesis which is involved in hyper-pigmentation. So MKG is considered to be used as a whitening components reducing cytotoxicity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2008

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. In this study we found that apigenin stimulated melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner in B16 murine melanoma cells. Since in our previous study $K^+$-$Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) has been shown to mediate the mechanism of action of apigenin in neuronal cells, we further investigated the role of KCC in the melanogenesis-stimulating effect of apigenin in B16 cells. At nontoxic concentrations apigenin induced $Cl^-$-dependent $K^+$ efflux, a hallmark of KCC activity, which was markedly prevented by a specific KCC inhibitor R-(+)-[(2-n-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-yl)oxy]acetic acid (DIOA). These results indicate that KCC is functionally present, and activated by apigenin in the B16 cells. In addition, the apigenin-induced stimulation of melanogenesis was also significantly inhibited by DIOA. NEthylmaleimide (NEM), a known KCC activator, induced $Cl^-$ efflux and stimulated melanogenesis in a concentration-dependent fashion. Both effects of NEM were significantly inhibited by DIOA. Taken together, these results suggest that apigenin can modulate melanogenesis through the activation of a membrane ion transporter, KCC in B16 cells. These results further suggest that apigenin may be a good candidate in the therapeutic strategy for hypopigmentation disorders, such as vitiligo.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1516-1524
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• 2013

To find a novel skin whitening agent, the effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${\alpha}$) extract fermented by fungi on anti-melanogenesis in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was investigated. Fermented CM${\alpha}$ was prepared with fungi, including Monascus purpureus (Mp), Aspergillus oryzae (Ao), Aspergillus kawachii (Ak), and Rhizopus oryzae (Ro), respectively. When the content of the phenolics and the flavonoids and the activities of the antioxidant and the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition were measured in the CM fermented by Ak (AkF-CM), the highest content of the phenolics was 46 mg/g dry weight and the highest content of the flavonoids was 0.93 mg/g; the highest activity of the DPPH radical scavenging was 62.74% and the highest activity of the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition was 79.97% CM${\alpha}$CM${\alpha}$. From this result, AkF-CM${\alpha}$ exhibited the highest mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity and so it was used in subsequent anti-melanogenesis. B16F0 melanoma cells were treated with 1-10 mg/ml concentrations of AkF-CM${\alpha}$ and 200 ${\mu}M$ arbutin as the positive control. The melanin content and cell viability of the melanoma cells by arbutin treatment decreased to 43% and 92% of the control, respectively. AkF-CM${\alpha}$ treatment at 1, 3, and 5 mg/ml concentrations decreased the extracellular melanin release induced by IBMX treatment by 35%, 45%, and 53%, respectively. AkF-CM${\alpha}$ showed inhibitory activity against both intracellular tyrosinase in melanoma cells and mushroom tyrosinase. AkF-CM${\alpha}$ reduced the protein level of tyrosinase in the IBMX-stimulated cells. These results indicate that AkF-CM${\alpha}$ suppressed the activity and protein content of cellular tyrosinase and decreased the total melanin content in cultured B16F0 melanoma cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1122-1126
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• 2002

We have examined whether Soamsan 1 (SA 1) augment the inhibitory effect of oral administration of Soamsan (SA) on lung metastasis of mouse 816 melanoma cells. The inhibitory effect was slightly enhanced by increase in administration dosage of SA 1. SA 1 as well as SA inhibited effectively the lung metastasis regardless of the pretreatment with anti-mouseNK monoclonal antibody. However, in the case of 2-chloroadenosine-pretreated mice, the inhibitory effects of SA and SA 1 were decreased by 18 and 23%, respectively. In vitro stimulation of the mouse splenocytes with mitogens showed that SA or SA 1 significantly augmented the proliferation of mouse splenocytes. Especially, the activity was more prominent in the presence of a B cell mitogen. LPS than a T cell mitogen, Con A. These results suggest that oral administration of SA 1 or SA inhibited lung metastasis of B16 melanoma cells, possibly through a mechanism mediated by the activation of macrophages and B lymphocytes in the host immune system. However, SA 1 did not showed more significant augment of the activation of immune system than SA.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2002

$\beta$-Immunan, a proteoglycan, was isolated from the mycelium of Canoderma lucidum which belongs to a medicinal mushroom. The effects of $\beta$-Immunan on cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions mediated by carbohydrate-recognition and the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of experimental metastasis of Bl6-F10 and B16/BL6 murine melanoma were studied. The results showed that $\beta$-Immunan inhibited Bl6-Fl melanoma cell's adhesion to laminin and asialofetuin-induced homotypic aggregation and reduced invasion against Bl6-F10 murine melanoma cells through matrigel in vivo assay. When $\beta$-Immunan was intraperitoneally administrated to C57B/6 mice bearing B16/BL6 murine melanoma cells, it was decreased the number of pulmonary metastatic colony by the dose dependent manner ranging from 20 to 100 mg/kg/day. The results indirectly indicate that clinical treatment with $\beta$-Immunan might be expected to exhibit anti-metastatic effect. In the pulmonary metastasis, the number of pulmonary metastatic colony of melanoma when $\beta$-Immunan was intraperitoneally administrated to C57BL/6 mice bearing B16/BL6 murine melanoma cells by intravenous injection were decreased by the dose dependent manner ranging from 20 to 100 mg/kg/day.