• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2013

In order to develop new skin whitening agents, we prepared the EtOAc layer (AJE) after enzyme treatment of 75% EtOH extract of the Alnus Japonica Steud. We measured their tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16-F1 melanoma cells. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay, AJE suppressed melanin production up to 52% at a concentration of $40{\mu}g/mL$. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of AJE on melanogenesis, we measured expression of melanogenesis-related proteins by the western blot assay. As a result, AJE suppressed the expression of tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1) and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF). Moreover, AJE increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). These results conclude that ERK activation by AJE reduces melanin synthesis via MITF downregulation and is subsequent to the inhibition of TRP-1 expression. Therefore, we suggest that AJE could be used as active ingredients for skin whitening.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.318-323
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• 2012

This study involved observation of the inhibitory effect of 70% EtOH and water extracts from Doinseunggitang on melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and western blotting using B16F10 melanoma cells. Doinseunggitang extracts inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dependent manner. As a result, it was found that Doinseunggitang 70% EtOH extracts inhibit melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, respectively, by 40% and 51%. In addition, western blotting analysis showed that 70% EtOH extracts inhibited tyrosinase, MITF, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. These results show that 70% ethanol extracts of Doinseunggitang could be developed as a skin whitening material in cosmetics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.641-646
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• 1995

During the screening of inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis from microbial secondary metabolites, a fungal strain MR304 which was capable of producing high level of an inhibitor was selected. Based on taxonomic studies, this fungus could be classified as Trichoderma harzianum. The active compound (MR304-1) was purified from culture broth by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography, ethylacetate extraction, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographv and HPLC. The inhibitor was identified as 3-(1,5-dihvdroxy-3-isocyanocyclopent-(E)-3-envl)prop-2-enoate by spectroscopic methods of UV, ESIMS, $^{1}$H-NMR, $^{13}$C-NMR, NOE, HMQC and HMBC. MR304-1 showed strong mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC$_{50}$ value of 0.25 $\mu $g/ml. It inhibited melanin biosynthesis with 15 mm inhibition zone at 30 $\mu $g/paper disc in Streptomyces bikiniensis, a bacterium used as an indicator organism in this work. It also inhibited melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells with a niinimum inhibitory concentration of 0.05 $\mu $g/ml.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1051-1059
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• 2020

Overproduction and accumulation of melanin in the skin will darken the skin and cause skin disorders. So far, components that can inhibit tyrosinase, a melanin synthase of melanocytes, have been developed and used as ingredients of cosmetics or pharmaceutical products. However, most of existing substances can only inhibit the biosynthesis of melanin while melanin that is already synthesized and deposited is not directly decomposed. Thus, their effects in decreasing melanin concentration in the skin are weak. To overcome the limitation of existing therapeutic agents, we started to develop a substance that could directly biodegrade melanin. We screened traditional fermented food microorganisms for their abilities to direct biodegrade melanin. As a result, we found that a kimchi-derived Pediococcus acidilactici PMC48 had a direct melanin-degrading effect. This PMC48 strain is a new strain, different from P. acidilactici strains reported so far. It not only directly degrades melanin, but also has tyrosinase-inhibiting effect. It has a direct melanin-decomposition effect. It exceeds existing melanin synthesis-inhibiting technology. It is expected to be of high value as a raw material for melanin degradation drugs and cosmetics.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.56-56
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• 2023

The cone of Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda (PRT), a plant in the Pinaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine to treat hemostasis, bruises, and burns. Previous research has shown that regulating oxidation-reduction reactions in reactive oxygen species can help inhibit melanogenesis, the process of melanin synthesis, which is a common target for addressing hyperpigmentation. Inhibiting tyrosinase is also known to be effective in this regard. Based on these findings, we conducted an investigation into the inhibitory effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of PRT (ERT) on melanogenesis in B16 F10 cells. We know that the expression levels of melanin biosynthesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, are regulated by MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) and cAMP, with cAMP affecting the activity of protein kinase A (PKA). PKA can reduce melanogenesis, and CREB reduces the phosphorylation of melanin-producing enzymes. In addition, the MAPK signaling pathway, composed of ERK, JNK, p38, and other factors, is also known to play a role in the inhibition of melanogenesis in melanocytes. Our immunoblotting results showed that ERT inhibited the expression of melanin production-related proteins (tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF) that were significantly increased by a-MSH treatment to promote melanin production. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of factors related to cAMP/PKA/CREB and MAPK signaling pathways were significantly reduced without affecting the total form. In conclusion, we believe that treatment with ERT can inhibit melanin synthesis by modulating the phosphorylation of cAMP/PKA/CREB and MAPK signaling pathways at the cellular level. These findings suggest the potential of ERT as a raw material for functional cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, thanks to its antioxidant activity and ability to inhibit melanogenesis. We thought that these findings of ERT as a natural plant resource will inspire further research and development in this area.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2015

Fucoidan, a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed in the class Phaeophyceae, has been widely studied for its possible health benefits. However, the potential of fucoidan as a possible treatment for hyperpigmentation is not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of fucoidan on melanogenesis and related signaling pathways using Mel-Ab cells. Fucoidan significantly decreased melanin content. While fucoidan treatment decreased tyrosinase activity, it did not do so directly. Western blot analysis indicated that fucoidan downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and reduced tyrosinase protein expression. Further investigation showed that fucoidan activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, suggesting a possible mechanism for the inhibition of melanin synthesis. Treatment with PD98059, a specific ERK inhibitor, resulted in the recovery of melanin production. Taken together, these findings suggest that fucoidan inhibits melanogenesis via ERK phosphorylation.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.763-764
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• 2003

As melanin is a key material for skin pigmentation, inhibitors of melanin formation have been used to cosmetics and drugs to prevent hyperpigmentation. Therefore, search for effective inhibitor$ from various plants were attempted. For this purpose, I examined in vitro tyrosinase assay system. Tyrosinase showed a maximal activity at 4 units concentration of tyrosinase, 10 minutes, 42$^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objective : Siegesbeckia Herba can treat various skin disease by expelling wind and removing dampness and clearing away heat and toxic material effects. This study was designed to investigate effects of Siegesbeckia Herba Extracts(SHE) on skin elasticity and whitening using B16F10 cell lines. Method : In this experiment, We observed effect of SHE on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. Results : 1. SHE treated group showed decreased cell viability rates significantly compared with non-treated group. More than SHE $250{\mu}g/ml$, $500{\mu}g/ml$ and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. 2. SHE significantly showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro, SHE increased tyrosinase inhibitory activity and elastase inhibitory activity in B16F10 cells, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro. 3. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity and elastase inhibitory activity in B16F10 cells, tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro were not accepted statistical significance compared with non-treated group. 4. SHE treated group showed increased SOD-like activity rates significantly compared with non-treated group. More than SHE $250{\mu}g/ml$, $500{\mu}g/ml$ and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. Conclusion : These results suggest that SHE can inhibit melanin synthesis and tyrosinase inhibtory activity. So, We suggest that SHE can be maintained skin whitening.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2011

In order to investigate the potential of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics, we prepared N. sativa oil. We measured its inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, cellular tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells. N. sativa oil and its components showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay using mouse B16-F10 melanoma cell, it reduced melanin production up to 86 % at a concentration of 10 mg/mL without cytotoxicity. In the study on the melanogenic protein expressions by using RT-PCR and Western blot, N. sativa oil and its components inhibited expression of tyrosinase protein, which is a well-known key protein on melanogenesis, and tyrosinase expression was gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, this result suggests that N. sativa oil could be used as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2013

In order to develop new skin whitening agents, we prepared the $CH_2Cl_2$ layer (NGC) and BuOH layer (NGB) of 75% EtOH extract of the Nelumbinis nucifera Gaertner. We measured their tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16-F1 melanoma cells. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay, NGC and NGB suppressed melanin production up to 52% and 46% at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of NGC and NGB on melanogenesis, we measured the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins by western blot assay. As a result, NGC suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2), phosphorylated cAMP responsive element binding (p-CREB) protein, and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF). And NGB inhibited the protein expression of tyrosinase and MITF, but had no significant effect on TRP-1, TRP-2, and p-CREB expression. Moreover, NGB increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). In addition, we examined the inhibitory effect on the glycosylation of tyrosinase. As a result, NGC and NGB inhibited the activity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro and the glycosylation of tyrosinase in B16-F1 melanoma cells. From these results, we concluded that NGC and NGB could be used as active ingredients for skin whitening.