• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.4038-4045
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• 2011

To investigate whitening Effects of Angelica dahurica Radix Ethanol Extract (ADEE), we used melan-a cell line, brown guinea pig, and HMB-45. We treated with ADEE of 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration in order to evaluate the effect of ADEE on cell viability and on morphological observation of melan-a cells. Also we were induced the artificial tanning spots by 1,500 mJ/$cm^2$ of ultraviolet B radiation on the backs of brown guinea pigs (approximately 450~500g) and then the test agent of $30{\mu}{\ell}$ was applied on the spots twice a day, five days a week, for five weeks respectively. The visible whitening effect was evaluated once a week. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed under anesthetization. The artificial tanning spots were obtained by biopsy punch and stained with HMB-45 to observe the gp100 proteins which were melanosomes. Our results show that cell viability was not reduce at ADEE concentrations between 6.25 and 50 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$, melanin synthesis and melanocyte dendricity were decreased in ADEE treated melan-a cells increasing ADEE concentration. In the gross observation, ADEE treated groups had lower pigmentation than the vehicle control groups. And in the histological observation, ADEE treated groups had lower melanocytes than the vehicle control groups. Also in the quantitative analysis of the gp100 proteins using image analysis software, ADEE treated groups had a significantly lower value (p<0.001) than the vehicle control group and this resultsagreed with the results of observation under microscope. From these results, weconcluded that ADEE had positive whitening effect.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.417-423
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• 2015

Oil-in-water(o/w) nanoemulsions were prepared in the system of water/Span 80-Tween 80/long-chain paraffin oil via PIC method. With the increase of preparation temperature from 30 oC to 80 oC, the diameter of emulsion droplets decreased from 150 nm to 40 nm. By varying the HLB of mixed surfactants, we found that there was an optimum HLB around 13.0~14.0 corresponding to the minimum droplet size. The size of emulsion droplets increased upon increasing the ratio of oil/emulsifying agent. At $f{\leq}0.15$, the size of nanoemulsions could be kept constant more than 2 months. The increase in preparation temperature makes it possible for producing monodisperse nanoemulsions. Once the nanoemulsion is produced, the stability against Ostwald ripening is outstanding due to the extremely low solubility of the liquid paraffin oil in the continuous phase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2020

Sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) is a protective agent that is widely used in medicine because of its antioxidant effects. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were shown to increase pigmentation. Thus, ROS scavengers and inhibitors of ROS production may suppress melanogenesis. Forkhead box-O3a (FoxO3a) is an antimelanogenic factor that mediates ROS-induced skin pigmentation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the whitening effect of mesna and the signaling mechanism mediating this effect. Human melanoma (MNT-1) cells were used in this study. mRNA and protein expression were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis to track changes in FoxO3a-related signals induced by mesna. An immunofluorescence assay was performed to determine the nuclear translocation of FoxO3a. When MNT-1 melanoma cells were treated with mesna, melanin production and secretion decreased. These effects were accompanied by increases in FoxO3a activation and nuclear translocation, resulting in downregulation of four master genes of melanogenesis: MITF, TYR, TRP1, and TRP2. We found that mesna, an antioxidant and radical scavenger, suppresses melanin production and may therefore be a useful agent for the clinical treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.470-476
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• 2015

In this study, three dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) isolated from Gnaphalium affine D. DON. extracts were structurally identified and evaluated for their antioxidant activities, cellular protective effects, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The ethyl acetate fraction of G. affine was chromatographed, which yielded 3 DCQA derivatives of 1-3 : 3,5-dicaffoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA, 1), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-DCQA, 2), 1,5-dicaffoylquinic acid (1,5-DCQA, 3). The structure of each compounds was determined using $^1H$ NMR and MS analyses. Compounds of 1-3 showed strong free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}=3.70$, 5.80, and $5.50{\mu}M$, respectively) compared to those of a commonly used lipophilic antioxidant, (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($21.90{\mu}M$). Cellular protective effects of 1-3 compounds on the $^1O_2$ sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were similar to (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol. 1-3 compounds also exhibited higher tyrosinase inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}=0.15$, 0.16, and 0.13 mM) compared to arbutin (0.33 mM), known as a skin-whitening agent. These results indicate that three DCQA derivatives may be applied as an antioxidant and a skin whitening agent in food or cosmetic industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2012

Chaff-vinegar is known for having a variety of useful purposes in the fields of health and lifestyles. In a previous study we isolated and identified the active fractions of the polyphenol compound 7 species as a potential biomaterial for cosmeceuticals. To further test for its potential use as a functional material, we carried out an MTT assay, collagenase inhibition assay, elastase inhibition assay, tyrosinase inhibition assay, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, SOD-like activity assay and a xanthine oxidase inhibition assay. Chaff-vinegar exhibited potent collagenase and elastase inhibitory activities in a concentration dependent manner, indicating that the agent has the potential to alleviate the skin wrinkling process. Chaff-vinegar also showed 80% tyrosinase inhibition at a concentration of $100{\mu}L/mL$. DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition, and SOD-like activity results for each activity were 80%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. Taken together, the present study suggests that chaff-vinegar is a good candidate for use as an anti-wrinkling and/or whitening agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.403-412
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• 2014

To develop an effective skin whitening agent for cosmetics, we isolated cucurbitacin B from Cucumis sativus L. which has been used as traditional skin lighting regimen by the bioactivity-guided fractionation, and investigated the inhibitory effects of cucurbitacin B on melanogenesis. At a non-cytotoxic concentration, cucurbitacin B reduced melanin contents of B16F1 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Cucurbitacin B did not directly inhibit mushroom tyrosinase activity, but it inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Its inhibitory mechanism on melanin biosynthesis was further assessed, and we found that cucurbitacin B significantly decreased the protein level of tyrosinase, a major melanogenic enzymes and MITF, a master transcriptional factor of melanogenesis. In addition, cucurbitacin B increased the expression of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) which is known to function as tumor repressor and inhibits $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that cucuritacin B from C. sativus could be used as an active ingredient for skin whitening.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.331-339
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• 2022

Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes to protect the skin from external stimuli, mainly ultraviolet (UV) rays. However, abnormal and excessive production of melanin causes hyperpigmentation disorders, such as freckles, age spots, and discoloration. Natural cosmeceuticals are a new trend for treating or preventing hyperpigmentation due to fewer side effects and biocompatibility. In this context, the current study focused on Cnidium japonicum, a halophyte with several uses in folk medicine, to evaluate its potential as a skin-whitening agent. The effect of C. japonicum extract (CJE) on melanin production was analyzed in melanogenesis-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The results showed that CJE successfully inhibited the oxidation of tyrosine and L-DOPA by tyrosinase and subsequently decreased the production of the key enzymes responsible for melanin production: tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and protein-2. This effect was confirmed by decreased intracellular and extracellular melanin levels in B16F10 melanoma cells after CJE treatment. Further experiments to elucidate the action mechanism revealed that CJE treatment suppressed melanin production by inhibiting the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSKβ)/β-catenin and protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) pathways, which are the upstream activators of melanogenesis. In conclusion, the present study suggests that C. japonicum is a potential natural source of bioactive substances for the development of novel cosmeceuticals that can act against hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.238-242
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng has been used to prolong longevity and is believed to be useful for improving skin complexion. Ginsenosides are the most active components isolated from ginseng, and ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) in particular has been demonstrated to possess antioxidative, antitumorigenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of G-Rg3 to inhibit melanogenesis. Methods: The effects of G-Rg3 on melanin contents and the protein levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) were evaluated. Melanogenesis-regulating signaling molecules such as Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were also examined to explore G-Rg3-induced antimelanogenic mechanisms. Results: G-Rg3 was found to significantly inhibit the synthesis of melanin in normal human epidermal melanocytes and B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of cellular tyrosinase and the expression of MITF, tyrosinase, and TRP1 were all reduced, whereas ERK was strongly activated. PD98059 (a specific inhibitor of ERK) attenuated the G-Rg3-induced inhibition of melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these results showed that G-Rg3 induces the activation of ERK, which accounts for its antimelanogenic effects. G-Rg3 may be a promising safe skin-whitening agent, adding to the long list of uses of P. ginseng for the enhancement of skin beauty.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.434-436
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• 2007

In the previous study, we reported the inhibitory effects of Rodgersia podophylla root extract on tyrosinase activity and melanin production in melan-a cells. However, mechanism of the inhibitory activity and in vivo assay were not yet examined. This study performed the examination of the effects of Rodgersia podophylla root extract on protein expression and in vivo depigmenting activity using melan-a cells and brown guinea pigs. As the results of western immunoblotting analysis, treatment of Rodgersia podophylla root extract reduced tyrosinase expression rates in 10 and 100 ppm concentrations, dose dependently. Moreover, Rodgersia podophylla root extract exhibited depigmenting activity on UV-B induced hyperpigmentation in brown guinea pig skin. These results suggested that Rodgersia podophylla root extract could act as whitening agent for the skin via not only direct tyrosinase activity inhibition but also reducing of tyrosinase expression.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.323-327
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• 2004

Whitening effect, which decreases the skin pigmentation, is the one of important targets in cosmetics. This study was investigated the effects of Scirpi rhizoma on ant ioxidation and melanogenesis. S.rhizoma is a rhizome of Scirpus fluviatilis G. a perennial Cyperaceae species of wide occurrence in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. S.rhizoma shown scavenging activities of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the IC50 of 638${\mu}g/ml$ against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 21.7${\mu}g/ml$ against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, respectively. S.rhizoma treatment (48 h) suppressed the biosynthesis of melanin up to 27% and reduced tyrosinase activity up to 31% at 100${\mu}g/ml$ in B16 melanoma cells. S.rhizoma was also able to significantly inhibit tyrosinase and TRP-1 expres- sion in protein level. These results suggest that S.rhizoma inhibited melanin biosynthesis by regulating tyrosinase activity and expression in B16 melanoma cells. Therefore S.rhizoma may be useful as new whitening agent due to the antioxidant effect and the inhibitory effect against melanogenesis.