• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2009

Tyrosinase (TYR) plays a critical role in cellular melanogenesis and, thus, has been the major target of pharmacological approaches for the control of skin pigmentation. This study examined an alternative molecular approach using TYR-small interfering RNA (siRNA) to control melanogenesis in the human melanocytes. Both the mRNA and protein levels of TYR were significantly lowered by TYR-siRNA treatment, whereas TYR-related protein 1 and TYR-related protein 2 displayed no such changes. TYR-siRNA treatment inhibited the cellular melanin synthesis from the externally supplied TYR substrate L-tyrosine. TYR-siRNA also suppressed melanin synthesis and decreased the viability of cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation, supporting a critical role of melanin in protection against ultraviolet radiation. These results suggest that molecular approaches using siRNA targeted to the enzymes of melanogenic pathway may provide a novel strategy for the control of cell pigmentation.

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

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Objective : Paeoniae radix alba(PRA) can enrich the blood and regulate menstruation, astringe yin and arrest sweating, calm the liver and arrest pain. This study was designed to investigate effects of PRA on skin whitening and elasticity using melanoma cells. Methods : In this experiment, effect of PRA on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. Results : 1. More than $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PRA treated group showed lowered proliferation rates significantly compared to non-treated control group. 2. All of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. 3. PRA did not show inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activities in vitro. But, PRA suppressed tyrosinase activities in B16F10 cells significantly. 4. PRA suppressed elastse type 1 activities in dose-dependent manner in vitro. But, PRA slightly suppressed elastase type 4 activities in vitro, and PRA also slightly suppressed elastase activities in vivo. Conclusion : These results suggest that PRA can inhibit melanin synthesis through ihhibitory action on tyrosinase activity and inhibt elastase activity, and also suggest that these results can be used for the study on maintaining skin whitening or elasticity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.174-178
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• 2008

Melanin is a polymer of phenol which produces hyperpigmentation in the skin. Melanin synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosinase. To investigate the whitening activity of the fractions from the ethanol extract of Enteromorpha linza, we studied the inhibitory effect on the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in the B16/F1 melanoma cells. The inhibition ratio of tyrosinase activity of ethylacetate fraction from E. linza was as strong as that of kojic acid, a positive control. Also, the melanin production was significantly inhibited by the ethylacetate fraction in a dose dependent manner. The ethylacetate fraction showed the highest activity in the fractions and as strong activity as that of arbutin, a positive control. From these results, we suggest that the E. linza extract might be able to apply to cosmetic and medical fields.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2014

Clematis mandshurica (Ranunculaceae) has traditionally been used as a remedy for antidiuretic, antifungal, rheumatic conditions and alleviate pain. We carried out to evaluate the anti-oxidative effect, anti-inflammatory effect and anti-melanogenic effect of ethanol extract and solvent fractions of Clematis mandshurica. The ethanol extract and the dichloromethane fraction of Clematis mandshurica showed an anti-oxidative effect in DPPH assay, the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cell, and melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity of B16F10 melanoma cells. They reduced NO production and melanin content in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of $2.5{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$. They also suppressed iNOS and tyrosinase protein and m-RNA expressions dose dependently, assayed by western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiment.

• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the antimelanogenic effect of Dokhwalkisaeng-tang(Duohujisheng-tang) in B16F10 melanoma cells. Dokhwalkisaeng-tang(DKT) was used to develop the effective prescription of inhibition of melanin production. We determined inhibitory effects of DKT on melanin-release, melanin production, and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. And to explicate the action-mechanism of DKT, melanin-related gene expressions were determined using RT-PCR and real time RT PCR technique in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited melanin-release, melanin production in B16F10 melanoma cells considerably. DKT inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 in B16F10 melanoma cells. DKT inhibited the expression of PKA, PKC, MMP-2 and MITF in B16F10 melanoma cells. On the other hand, DKT increased the expression of ERK-1, ERK-2, AKT-1 in B16F10 melanoma cells. From these results, we propose that DKT may have effect on the antimelanogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.667-672
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• 2006

Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthetic pathway of melanin pigments participating in the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes, and is widely distributed in nature. The inhibitory compounds of tyrosinase have been extensively used as a cosmetic agent with a skin-whitening effect. In this paper, several plant extracts were screened using Melan-a cells for the melanin biosynthesis inhibition activity, and Idesia polycarpa was selected. A melanin biosynthesis inhibitor was isolated from I. polycarpa fruits by activity-guided fractionation, and the inhibitor was identified as 6-hydroxy-2-[[[(1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenl-yl)carbonyl]oxy]methyl]phenyl$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (idescrapin) by comparing it with reported spectral data. Idescarpin $(IC_{50}=8{\mu}g/ml)$ reduced melanin content compared with the vehicle. In addition, the inhibitory activity of idescarpin for melanin synthesis is mediated by decreasing tyrosinase protein rather than directly inhibiting the tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that idescarpin isolated from I. polycarpa fruits may be used as a skin-whitening agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.296-302
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• 2014

Saposhmikoviae Radix can treat various skin disease by anti-pruitus and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate effects of Saposhmikoviae Radix Extracts(SRE) on skin elasticity and whitening using B16F10 cell lines. In this experiment, We observed effect of SRE on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. In results, SRE treated group showed lowered proliferation rates significantly compared to non-treated group. More than SRE $125{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. SRE did not show inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activities in vitro and in B16F10 cells. Finally, SRE suppressed elastse type I and IV activities in dose-dependent manner in vitro. And SRE also slightly suppressed elastase activities in B16F10 cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that SRE can inhibit melanin synthesis and inhibt elastase activity. So, We suggest that SRE can be maintained skin elasticity or whitening.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2019

This study aims to evaluate the effects of Shengmaisan (SMS) and three types of ShengmaisanJiaweifang on the inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells, the mechanism of action through tyrosinase, and the antioxidant effect through superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In this study, we used ShengmaisanJiaweifangs (SMS, SMSRR, SMSAD, SMSAR) to research the whitening effects in B16F10 cell lines. Shengmaisan (SMS) was a herbal medicine composed of Ginseng Radix, Liriopis Tuber, and Schisandrae Fructus. ShengmaisanJiaweifangs included SMSRR (SMS added with Rehmanniae Radix), SMSAD (SMS added with Asparagi Radix) and SMSAR (SMS added with Astragali Radix). We measured the cell viability, the inhibition rate of the melanin biosynthesis, and the activity of tyrosinase and SOD in malignant melanoma, B16F10 cells, to survey the whitening effect and the mechanism of the impact on the sample. As a result, SMSRR significantly suppressed the cell viability of B16F10 at more than $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and significantly inhibited the generation of melanin induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH at more than $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. SMSRR ($500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) decreased the activity of tyrosinase while increased the activity of SOD. Therefore, we considered that the SMSRR would be able to produce high value-added products more SMS if used as a commercial.