• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

In order to develop a new skin whitening agent, approximately 100 plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against melanin biosynthesis in cultured mouse melanocyte melan-a cells. As a result, seven extracts exhibited over 50% inhibition of melanin synthesis compared to control at a concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, Aster ageratoides Turcz. var. ageratoides (branch, root, aerial, flower; $IC_{50}$ = 17.3, 6.1, 13.6, $12.9\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively) and Physalis alkekengi var. francheti (leaf, unripen fructus, aerial; $IC_{50}$ = 6.5, 28.3, $23.9\;{\mu}g/ml$) markedly inhibited melanin synthesis. In addition, tyrosinase activity was monitored by the measurement of dopachrome formation from the oxidation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. Extracts of A. ageratoides Turcz. var. ageratoides (flower) and P. alkekengi var. francheti (leaf) showed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. These plants might be the potential candidate sources in the development of novel skin-whitening products.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.192-194
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• 2008

In our previous study, ethylacetate fraction of white ginseng (root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) extract inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity and melanin production in melanocytes. This study examined its effects on the expression of melanin biosynthesis-related enzymes to explore the depigmenting pathway. Moreover, depigmenting effect on animal skin was examined using UV-B induced hyperpigmented skin of brown guinea pigs. The ethylacetate fraction of the white ginseng extract exhibited depigmenting activity in the skin of brown guinea pig without visible edema. In addition, this fraction reduced tyrosinase expression in melanocytes. The results suggested that ethylacetate fraction of white ginseng extract might be used as skin depigmenting material by inhibition of tyrosinase activity and expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2012

Sarsasapogenin (SAR) is a steroidal sapogenin that is used as starting material for the industrial synthesis of steroids. It has various pharmacological benefits, such as antitumor and antidepressant activities. Since its effect on melanin biosynthesis has not been reported, we used murine melanocyte melan-a cells to investigate whether SAR influences melanogenesis. In this study, SAR significantly increased the melanin content of the melan-a cells from 1 to 10 ${\mu}M$. Based on an enzymatic activity assay using melan-a cell lysate, SAR had no effect on tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activities. It also did not affect the protein expression of tyrosinase-related protein 1 and DOPAchrome tautomerase. However, protein levels of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor were strongly stimulated by treatment with SAR. Therefore, our reports suggest that SAR treatment may induce melanogenesis through the stimulation of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression in melan-a cells.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2023

This study aimed to verify the whitening effect of Cordyceps militaris, which is distributed in several countries worldwide, including Korea, Japan, and China, and has various medical effects. To screen the efficacy of C. militaris, the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase, which was 66% at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, was measured. Thereafter, the survival rate of melanoma cells was measured, and cell experiments were conducted at a concentration of 90% or more in which C. militaris was not toxic to cells. After measuring the inhibitory effect of TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase protein, and mRNA expression, which are factors influencing melanin synthesis, C. militaris was found to decrease in all factors, with an expression level that was significantly lower compared to quercetin. This confirmed that C. militaris stimulated with LED has excellent whitening activity and can be used as a functional whitening cosmetics material.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.284.2-284.2
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.206.1-206.1
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.152-156
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• 2004

The bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the flowers of Magnolia denudata led us to the isolation of six compounds identified as fargesin(1), kobusin(2), aschantin(3), magnolin(4), rel-[7s,8s,8's]-3,4,3',4'-tetra- methoxy-9,7'- dihydroxy-8,8',7.O.9'-lignan(5) and oplodiol(6), respectively. Among the isolated compounds, fargesin(1) showed most potent inhibitory effect on the melanin polymer biosynthesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines$(IC_{50},\;45.7\;{\mu}M)$.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2006

Rodgersia podophylla was a native medicinal plant cultivated in Korea. During the search for a new whitening natural herb, we found that underground part of Rodgersia podophylla showed inhibitory activity against melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by brocking tyrosinase activity. In addition, this plant exhibited protective effect on UV-B region. These results suggest that underground part of Rodgersia podophylla might be used as whitening agent for the skin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.439-443
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• 1997

From the root bark of Broussonetia kazinoki (Moraceae) two antioxidant components were identified. Their structures were determined as kazinol A (1) and kazinol E (2) (is oprenylated flavan and isoprenylated 1,3-diphenyl propan derivatives) by comparing NMR data with those of the reported compounds from relative plants. The antioxidant activity of 1 and 2 were monitored by the method of DPPH radical scavenging activity, whose $SC_{50}$ values were $41.4{\mu}M\;and\;33.4{\mu}M$, respectively. These compounds also exhibited inhibitory activity against tyrosinase, which is the sole key enzyme for the melanin biosynthesis and play a role in conversion of tyrosine to dopa, and dopa to dopaquinone. The antioxidant effect and the suppression of melanin biosynthesis are useful for anti-aging, increasing vitality in the incidence of major degenerative diseases, and cosmetic products in relation to hyperpigmentation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.49-61
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• 2017

Objectives : In order to find out the whitening effects of Leonuri Herba, this study was designed to identify the effects and the action mechanism of LHE(Leonuri Herba extract) on Malignant melanoma cell lines. Methods : After treating LHE on the B16F10 cell-Malignant melanoma cell line-, the cell survival rate, melanin biosynthesis rate, intra&extracellular tyrosinase activity rate, SOD-like activity, tyrosinase mRNA gene expression were investigated. The results were compared with control group without LHE treatment or with positive control group treated with whitening efficacy substance. Results : B16F10 cell survival rate, melanin biosynthesis rate, and intra&extracellular tyrosinase activity were significantly inhibited depending on the concentration of treated LHE. Melanin biosynthesis rate and tyrosinase activity rate were also decreased when ${\alpha}-MSH$ was combined with LHE. In addition, the SOD-like activity was increased in a concentration-dependent manner in the treatment with the LHE, indicating signigicant activity at high concentrations, and the tyrosinase mRNA gene expression was decreased in both the LHE-treated group, the LHE and ${\alpha}-MSH-treated$ group. Conclusions : LHE seems to inhibit melanin synthesis through inhibition of tyrosinase activity and inhibition of tyrosinase mRNA gene expression. It also has the effect of promoting SOD-like activity and may be used clinically as a skin whitening agent in the future.