• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.19-25
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• 2019

Objectives : Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol), a natural monoterpenoid phenol, is one of the major odorant constituents found in natural essential oils of various herbal plants, such as Thymus quinquecostatus and Thymus vulgaris. Multiple biological activities of thymol, including antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, have been reported in numerous in vitro studies, and recently it was suggested that thymol may could inhibit oxidization of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to dopaquinone required in melanogenesis pathway, as an antioxidant. Methods : MTT assay was performed to test the cytotoxic effect of thymol in B16F10 cells. Inhibitory effect of thymol to tyrosinase activities were examined using both mushroom tyrosinase and intracellular tyrosinase. Expression level of tyrosinase in B16F10 cells were investigated by western blot analysis. Results : The cell viability was decreased by thymol treatment in dose-dependant manner, leading significant cytotoxicity in 500 and $1000{\mu}M$ thymol-treated groups. In the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis, administration of thymol significantly decreased extracellular (secreted) melanin content in dose-dependent manner. Cellular tyrosinase activity assay and western blot analysis of intracellular tyrosinase showed that thymol has a strong anti-melanogenic effect by inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by decreasing expression of tyrosinase that contribute to melanin synthesis in the B1610 cells. Conclusions : As the first functional study that prove anti-melanogenic effect of thymol and its underlying mechanism in the living cells, our study suggests the applicability of fragrance as the functional materials of cosmetics or health supplement, not as just an additive.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2010

The solvent extracts of Prunus persica Flos were investigated for the activities of whitening and anti-wrinkle effects to apply as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products. The tyrosinase inhibitory effect, which is related to skin-whitening, was 54.0, 58.3% in P. persica Flos (PPW, PPE) at 1,000 ppm. In addition, the ethanol extract of P. persica Flos (PPE) showed a potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity in the test using melanoma cell lines resulting in 40.0% inhibition at 100ppm. Furthermore, the aqueous acetone extract from the flower of P. persica Flos was found to inhibit elastase, which was more effective than ascorbic acid at 1,000 ppm. The inhibition of melanin synthesis by P. persica Flos extract (PPE) was about 56.5% at 100 ppm concentration. When compared to other extraction methods, the ethanol extract showed more potent whitening activity. For anti-wrinkle effect, the elastase inhibition activity of P. persica Flos extract (PPA) was 57.0% and higher than that of ascorbic acid at 1,000 ppm. The collagenase inhibition activity of P. persica Flos extract (PPA) was about 48.0% at 1,000 ppm. Collagen synthesis in fibroblast cell by P. persica Flos extracts (PPA) was about 41.0% at 100 ppm and its acetone extract was the best showing antiwrinkle activities. All these findings suggested that P. persica Flos has a great potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with a whitening and anti-wrinkle effect.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.120-136
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• 1999

A newly synthesized polyhydroxy aromatic compound(LG 106w) has good skin lightening effect. Inclusion complexation of LG 106w with $\beta$-cyclodextrin and its hydroxypropyl and dimethyl derivatives was studied by the solubility method, scanning electron microscopy and differential thermal analysis. A relationship between host and guest was clearly reflected in the magnitude of the stability constant(DM-$\beta$> HP-$\beta$>$\beta$ -cyclodextrin). Formulation problems, which resulted from its very low solubility in aqueous solution, were resolved by the inclusion formation. LG 106W from inclusions is much more water-soluble than pure one. The improvement of pH and temperature stability correlated with the increased solubility was also observed. Inclusion complex of LG 106w had similar activity to pure LG 106w on the inhibition of melanin synthesis in B-16 melanoma cell but showed lower irritation on cultured cell test in vitro. According to the results, cyclodextrins might be one of the reliable candidates for improving the availability of LG 106w.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupt the cellular redox balance, exert cytotoxic effects, and consequently promote the development of various diseases in humans. Previous studies have reported that antioxidants counteract the adverse effects of ROS. Several studies examine the whitening effects of various agents based on their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Tyrosinase is a critical enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin, which protects the skin against radiation. Various agents exhibiting antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities have been synthesized. However, these synthetic drugs are associated with toxicity, decreased safety, and poor skin penetration in vivo, which has limited the clinical application of synthetic drugs. This study examined the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of some microalgae. The methanol, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate extracts of four microalgal species (Tetraselmis tetrathele, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Platymonas sp., and Chaetoceros simplex) were prepared. The physiological and whitening effects of microalgal extracts were investigated by measuring the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The ethyl acetate extract of D. tertiolecta exhibited the highest antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Future studies must focus on examining the whitening effects of microalgae on cell lines to facilitate the development of microalga-based therapeutics for skin diseases, functional health foods, and whitening agents. Thus, microalgae have potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2010

Plants extracts are good resources to find functional compounds for human health. The following eight plants were collected and total phenolic contents were determined. Acer psedo-siebolianum showed the highest phenolic contents, 16.4 mg/g, whereas Cercidiphyllum japonica showed the lowest contents, 1.9 mg/g. The DPPH free radical scavenging capacities of the plant extracts showed high activity in following order : Acer ginnala ($21.3\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Cornus walteri ($23.9\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Distylum racemosum ($29.2\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Castanopsis cuspidata var. Thunbergii ($31.7\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Acer psedo-siebolianum ($34.6\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Thuijopsis dolabrata cv. Aurea ($53.1\;{\mu}g/mL$) > Cercidiphyllum Japonica ($115.2\;{\mu}g/mL$). Also the mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activities of total extracts were determined at different concentration. D. racemosum extract showed highest (49.1% at 1,000 mg) in inhibitory activity than other seven extracts. The ethanol fraction $IC_{50}$ value: $118.1\;{\mu}g/mL$) from D. racemosum showed more inhibitory activity than ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ value: $203\;{\mu}g/mL$). The ethanol fraction on showed no significant cytotoxicity in B16/F1 cells line up to $60\;{\mu}g/mL$. Over $80\;{\mu}g/mL$ of ethanol fraction showed cytotoxicity in B16/F1 cells. The melanin contents of cells were significantly attenuated by ethanol fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The $IC_{50}$ value of ethanol fraction was $75.4\;{\mu}g/mL$.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2012

Ramalin (${\gamma}$-glutamyl-N'-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazide) isolated from the Antarctic lichen Ramalina terebrata has been shown to have strong antioxidant activities in the previous study. To investigate additional activities of ramalin, we studied the effects of ramalin on melanogenesis in melan-a cells, a non-tumorigenic melanocyte cell line. At a non-cytotoxic concentration, ramalin dramatically decreased melanin synthesis in melan-a cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was more potent than arbutin, a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor. Ramalin inhibited cell-free tyrosinase activity directly and intracellular tyrosinase activity as well. Its inhibitory mechanisms on melanin production were further assessed, and we found that ramalin significantly decreased the protein levels of melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2). However, the mRNA levels of these enzymes were not altered. In a clinical study, application of 0.2 % ramalin on human skin significantly improved the degree of skin brightness after 3 weeks. In conclusion, ramalin has strong anti-melanogenic activity that is exerted both by the direct inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by down-regulation of melanogenic proteins. Furthermore, ramalin showed skin brightening effect in a clinical study. Collectively, these results suggest that ramalin may be a useful inhibitor for melanogenesis in skin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2013

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of protopectinase enzymes and mechanical maceration from soybeans on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration were examined by an in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and by assessing markers in B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects on the expression of melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects on free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. There was also an inhibition in the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Our results show that soybean protopectinase treatment inhibits melanogenesis, with the underlying mechanism possibly due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. We suggest that soybean protopectinase should be contained as natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2015

In this study, cosmeceutical activities of the co-cultures of both lactic acid bacteria isolated from the hands of women, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) and Lactobacillus paracasei (L. paracasei) were first reported: For whitening and anti-wrinkle activities, the co-culture showed the highest tyrosinase inhibition of 20.68%, compared L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. The co-culture also showed the highest inhibition of melanin synthesis as 63.7%. In observing the anti-wrinkle activities of the co-culture, it generated only 3726.3 pg/mL of matrixmetalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production when 13613.5 pg/mL and 13012.0 pg/mL of MMP-1 production were estimated from L. rhamnosus and L. paracasei. Besides these, the extract from the co-culture yielded higher collagen production as 380.7 ng/mL, compared to 323.4 ng/mL and 304.1 ng/mL from L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. These results indicate that the co-culture of both lactic acid could improve its cosmetic activities. This hypothesis was also confirmed that the co-culture of both bacteria showed strong antioxidant activities of DPPH free radical scavenging while the extract of L. rhamnosus and L. paracasei.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.993-999
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• 2015

For the purpose of investigating the in vitro antidiabetic activity of a medicinal herb and herb mixture extracts prepared through traditional antidiabetic prescription, this study examined ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Tyrosinase, a type I membrane glycoprotein, is synthesized and glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi. The enzyme is subsequently transported to melanosomes, where it participates in melanogenesis. Previous studies showed that disruption of early ER N-glycan processing by an ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor suppresses tyrosinase enzymatic activity and melanogenesis. According to the results, most oriental medicinal herbal extracts were stronger than acarbose and N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, known as an ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor. Interestingly, ethyl acetate layer of enzyme hydrolyzed Cheongsimyeonjaeum had an inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells, although it did not inhibit tyrosinase activity directly. Together, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity could be used to evaluate anti-melanogenesis, although cross-checking with melanin inhibitory assay is recommended.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.244-251
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• 2022

This study attempted to investigate the applicability of Geranium maculatum extract as a cosmeceutical ingredient. For this, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays were performed to assess radical scavenging activities. To evaluate antioxidant substances, in addition, polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations were measured. Furthermore, cytotoxicity, whitening and anti-inflammatory tests were conducted, using B16F10 and RAW 264.7 cells, and the results found the followings: In the DPPH and ABTS assays, 265.8 mg ascorbic acid/g and 168.5 mg ascorbic acid/g of antioxidant capacities were found respectively. According to the FRAP assay, 1 mg Geranium maculatum extract was same with ascorbic acid 229±9 ㎍ in terms of reducing power. In polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations, 32.989±1.610 mg/g and 11.098±0.261 mg/g were observed each. The above results show that cells survived in the test concentrations more than 80 percent, confirming the low toxicity of Geranium maculatum extract. According to whitening testing, melanin synthesis was reduced depending on concentration, and at the same time, 40.62±2.07% of melanin production inhibition was found at 100 ㎍/mL. In anti-inflammatory testing, inflammation was reduced depending on concentration, and 27.86±2.82% of inhibition of inflammation was detected simultaneously, confirming the applicability of Geranium maculatum extract as a cosmeceutical ingredient.