• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1033-1041
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• 2020

Many people of all ages wish to have lighter skin for cosmetic reasons, and natural products attract more attention than chemically synthesized compounds. Uncaria rhynchophylla is widely used in Asia as a traditional herbal medicine. In order to find novel skin whitening agents, the present study evaluated the antioxidant activity and potential tyrosinase-inhibiting properties of U. rhynchophylla. Specifically, this study analyzed the antioxidant capacity of a 70% ethanolic extract of U. rhynchophylla as well as its effects on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. Total mRNA levels were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that U. rhynchophylla extracts exhibit great antioxidant capacity and significant levels of polyphenol and flavonoid compounds. U. rhynchophylla extracts can also powerfully inhibit tyrosinase activity. This same capacity was observed in melanoma B16F10 cells; that is, U. rhynchophylla extracts suppressed intracellular tyrosinase activity and reduced the amount of melanin in treated cells. In addition, a 1 mg/ml concentration of U. rhynchophylla extract significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of tyrosinase. U. rhynchophylla extracts decrease tyrosinase and inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. This finding suggests that U. rhynchophylla has great potential as a natural whitening agent in skincare products.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.365-371
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigated the biological activities of Xylosma congesta leaf ethanol extract (XCO) using a variety of in vitro and cell culture model systems for anti-melanogenic, anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. First, XCO markedly inhibited ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. Secondly, XCO marginally induced procollagen synthesis in CCD-986SK cells. Thirdly, XCO dose-dependently suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. XCO did not affect cell viability at different concentrations used in this study, indicating that XCO-mediated inhibition of melanin, procollagen and NO synthesis is not mediated by cytotoxicity. Finally, XCO was found to exert anti-oxidant effect. Taken together, these findings demonstrate for the first time that XCO possesses anti-melanogenic, anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, and suggest further evaluation and development of XCO as a functional supplement or cosmetic that may be useful for whitening skin, reducing wrinkles and treating inflammatory responses.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.461-467
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• 2010

Natural products with non-toxic and environmentally friendly properties are good resources for skin-whitening cosmetic agents when compared to artificial synthetic chemicals. Here, we investigated the effect of glyceollin produced to induce disease resistance responses of soybean to specific races of an incompatible pathogen, phytophthora sojae, on melanogenesis and discussed their mechanisms in melanin biosynthesis. We found that glyceollin inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity. To elucidate the mechanism of the effect of glyceollin on melanogenesis, we conducted western blot analysis for melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2. Glyceollin inhibited tyrosinase and TRP-1 protein expression. Additionally, glyceollin effectively inhibited intracellular cAMP levels in B16 melanoma cells stimulated by $\alpha$-melanocyte stimulating hormone ($\alpha$-MSH). These results suggest that the whitening activity of glyceollin may be due to the inhibition of cAMP involved in the signal pathway of $\alpha$-MSH in B16 melanoma cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.988-994
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• 2010

The EtOAc fraction of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities. Four active compounds were isolated based on Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and HPLC, and the structures were elucidated, on the basis of their LC-MS and NMR spectral data, as 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzofuran (1), eriodictyol-7-O-glucopyranoside (2), haginin A (3), and dalbergioidin (4), respectively. Compound (1) showed mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $5.2\;{\mu}M$ and acted as a competitive inhibitor. Furthermore, $37.3\;{\mu}M$ of compound 1 reduced 50% of the melanin content on human melanoma (MNT-1) cells. The radical scavenging activities of compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 were shown to have $IC_{50}$ values of 11.0, 24.5, 9.0, and $36.5\;{\mu}M$, respectively, in an ABTS system and $IC_{50}$ values of 42.7, 36.0, 37.7, and $61.7\;{\mu}M$, respectively, in a DPPH system. The mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the EtOAc fraction of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya was contributed by compounds 1, 3, and 4, and its radical scavenging activity was contributed by compounds 1-4.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the whitening effect of Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge water extract (SM-W) in human epidermal melanocyte (HEM). Mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory effect of SM-W was approximately 42% at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$. The HEM cellular tyrosinase and melanin synthesis inhibition activity were 26 and 25% at $5{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Whitening related proteins and mRNAs including tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2, and microphthalmia associated transcription factor were reduced by SM-W treatment. In addition, the cAMP expression inhibitory effect of SM-W was decreased by 41% at $5{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. These results indicated that Salvia miltorrhiza Bunge could be used to the possible utilization of functional cosmetic ingredients by confirming whitening activity related with melanin content.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2007

We examined the depigmentation effect on Korean traditional citrus 17 species. With B16 melanoma cells, we have seen inhibition of the tyrosinase and melanin formation, which eventually were dose dependently decreased by three citrus fruits, immature Citrus unshiu, Citrus hassaku, and Citrus sinensis ${\times}$ reticulata as compared with positive control. Also, we examined expression of tyrosinase, DOPAchrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and DHICA oxidase (TRP-1) which affect melanin synthesis. Especially, immature Citrus unshiu decreased the protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In conclusion, immature Citrus unshue showed the strongest activity in all the experiments mentioned above and we expect that it can be used for preventing UV-induced pigmentation.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.245-251
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• 2018

In this study, Coffea arabica ethanol extract (CAE) was tested for possible functional cosmetic agent. Whitening effect was measured by tyrosinase inhibition assay, and anti-oxidant activity was checked by SOD-like activity. SOD-like activity of CAE showed $94.8{\pm}6.2%$ at $500{\mu}g/mL$. The anti-bacterial activities CAE was evaluated against three different gram-positive bacteria and six gram-negative bacteria including MRSA strains. CAE exhibited in vitro broad spectrum antimicrobial activities of gram-negative bacteria without antifungal activity. CAE was strong exhibited against MRSA CCARM3561. The tyrosinase and L-DOPA inhibitory activities of the CAE lower than those positive control arbutin. CAE reduced melanin contents of B16-F10 melanoma cell in a dose dependent manner and decrease about 89.2% at a concentration $100{\mu}g/mL$. These result highlight the potential of coffee extract as a naturally active and non-toxic antibacterial suitable for cosmetic applications.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.135-149
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• 2002

To date, research on the regulation of melanogenesis has focused on factors which affect tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the melanogenic pathway, by searching for chemicals which competitively inhibit tyrosinase function. Many types of tyrosinase inhibitors have been developed, but no satisfactory results have been made clinically until now, To find a new whitening agent, which effectively inhibits melanogenesis, we synthesized several compounds and selected compounds by cell-based assay system. Finally, 3, 4, 5-trimethoxy cinnamaie thymol ester(TCTE, Melasolv) was selected and the effects of TCTE on melanogenesis were investigated. Treatment of mouse-derived melanocyte melan-a cells with TCTE results in a marked down-regulation of tyrosinase activity. 80% decrease of tyrosinase activity occurs with 30uM TCTE treatment for 72 hours without affecting cell growth. The inhibition of tyrosinase activity is dose-dependent and melanin content was also decreased to 40%. From the in vitro tyrosinase assay using cell extract, TCTE does not act as a direct inhibitor of the enzyme. Treatment of melan-a cultures with TCTE blocks the increase in tyrosinase activity by either forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methtyl-xanthine. TCTE decreased the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 without effects on TRP-2 protein expression through the down regulation of tyrosinase and TRP-1 mRNA. From the results of cAMP immunoassays, intracellular levels of the cyclin nucleotide are unaffected in cells treated with TCTE. The inhibitory effects of melanin synthesis were also shown in reconstitute human epidermis model by topical application. These findings suggest that TCTE can be used for studying the regulation of melanogenesis and depigmenting agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2021

Skin photoaging occurs due to chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV), the main factor contributing to extrinsic skin aging. Clinical signs of photoaging include the formation of deep, coarse skin wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Although melanogenesis and skin wrinkling occur in different skin cells and have different underlying mechanisms, their initiation involves intracellular calcium signaling via calcium ion channels. The ORAI1 channel initiates melanogenesis in melanocytes, and the TRPV1 channel initiates MMP-1 production in keratinocytes in response to UV stimulation. We aimed to develop a drug that may simultaneously inhibit ORAI1 and TRPV1 activity to help prevent photoaging. We synthesized nootkatol, a chemical derivative of valencene. TRPV1 and ORAI1 activities were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i was measured using calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye (Fura-2 AM). UV-induced melanin formation and MMP-1 production were quantified in B16F10 melanoma cells and HaCaT cells, respectively. Our results indicate that nootkatol (90 μM) reduced TRPV1 current by 94% ± 2% at -60 mV and ORAI1 current by 97% ± 1% at -120 mV. Intracellular calcium signaling was significantly inhibited by nootkatol in response to ORAI1 activation in human primary melanocytes (51.6% ± 0.98% at 100 μM). Additionally, UV-induced melanin synthesis was reduced by 76.38% ± 5.90% in B16F10 melanoma cells, and UV-induced MMP-1 production was reduced by 59.33% ± 1.49% in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, nootkatol inhibits both TRPV1 and ORAI1 to prevent photoaging, and targeting ion channels may be a promising strategy for preventing photoaging.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

Objectives : The various grape extracts derived from grape pulp, seed and skin, containing various types of polyphenols and flavonoids, have been known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and improve cardiovascular condition as well as sun's damaging effects. However, there have been rare reports of various beneficial effects of grape fruit stem extract (GFSE), one of the waste products of grapes. We investigated anti-inflammatory and melanogenesis inhibitory effects of GFSE. Methods : One-hundred gram of grape fruit stem was extracted with 80% ethanol at room temperature for 3 days. After filtration, the ethanol was removed using vacuum evaporator, then lyophilized to obtain the dry extract which was stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ until used. NO levels were measured by using Greiss reagent. Prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production was measured by ELISA assay. The expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, TRP-1 and TRP-2 were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results : GFSE reduced the level of nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production in a dose-dependent manner, compared to control. Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein were also effectively inhibited by the GFSE. In a tyrosinase inhibitory activity, GFSE significantly reduced the tyrosinase activity and melanin content in a dose dependent manner, compared to control. GFSE also decreased the expression of tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2), known as a melanocyte-specific gene product involved in melanin synthesis. Conclusions : Therefore, these results indicated that GFSE had powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic effects.