• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.3 s.58
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• pp.153-160
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• 2006

We synthesized 2',4'-dimethoxyflavone and investigated the effects on melanogenesis. To determine the effects as a whitening agent, various in uitro tests were performed such as free radical scavenging activity, melanin assay, tyrosinase activity and expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 (western blot and RT-PCR) in Bl6 melanoma cells. 2',4'-Dimethoxyflavone showed neither free radical scavenging activities against 1,1- diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazvl (DPPH) radical and inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity, 2',4'-dimethoxyflavone significantly inhibited melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. 2',4'-Dimethoxyflavone treatment (48h) suppressed the biosynthesis of melanin up to 27% at $5{\mu}g/mL$ and reduced tyrosinase activity up to 20% at $5{\mu}g/mL$ in B16 melanoma cells. 2',4'-Dimethoxyflavone was also able to significantly inhibit tyrosinase and TRP-1 expression in protein and mRNA level. These results suggest that 2',4'-dimethoxyflavone inhibits melanin biosynthesis at the level of enzyme activity and protein mRNA expression B16 melanoma cells. Therefore, 2',4'-dimethoxyflavone may be useful as a new whitening agent in cosmetics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.946-951
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• 2014

Melanin plays a key role in the protection of skin from ultraviolet light that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. However, the ROS leading to the oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA are involved in the overproduction of melanin that is known to cause melasma, age spots and freckles. Among the herb medicines, Ulmus macrocarpa used in this study was reported to contain flavonoids as a main component. The aim of this study is to investigate the whitening and anti-oxidant effects of Ulmus macrocarpa ethanolic extracts (UMEE) in B16F1 cells. UMEE below $3.12{\mu}g/ml$ did not show cytotoxicity. In an anti-oxidant experiment, UMEE showed not only high reducing power and scavenging activity on DPPH, but it was also observed that UMEE exhibit an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. UMEE did not display an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. However, UMEE inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 cells. In addition, UMEE reduced the expression levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which are key enzymes in melanogenesis. These results indicate that UMEE exert a whitening effect through the inhibition of both tyrosinase and TRP-2 expressions as well as anti-oxidant activity, suggesting that UMEE could have the functional potential for a whitening effect on the skin.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2017

p-Coumaric acid is an organic compound that is a hydroxyl derivative of cinnamic acid. Due to its multiple biological activities p-coumaric acid has been widely studied in biochemical and cellular systems and is also considered as a useful therapeutic candidate for various neuronal diseases. However, the efficacy of p-coumaric acid on zebrafish developmental regulation has not been fully explored. In this study, therefore, we first investigated the action mechanism of the p-coumaric acid on the zebrafish development in a whole-organism model. p-Coumaric acid treated group significantly inhibited the pigmentation of the developing zebrafish embryos compared with control embryos without any severe side effects. In addition, p-coumaric acid down-regulated more effectively in a lower concentration than the well-known zebrafish's melanogenic inhibitor, phenylthiourea. We also compared the molecular docking property of p-coumaric acid with phenylthiourea on the tyrosinase's kojic acid binding site, which is the key enzyme of zebrafish embryo pigmentation. Interestingly, p-coumaric acid interacted with higher numbers of the amino acid residues and exhibited a tight binding affinity to the enzyme than phenylthiourea. Taken all together, these results strongly suggest that p-coumaric acid inhibits the activity of tyrosinase, consequently down-regulating zebrafish embryo pigmentation, and might play an important role in the reduction of dermal pigmentation. Thus, p-coumaric acid can be an effective and non-toxic ingredient for anti-melanogenesis functional materials.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.298-304
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• 2015

Dendrobium loddigesii (DL) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening effects of DL under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells. The DL extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DL extract effectively suppressed the ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DL treatment. These results indicate that DL may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening effects.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2011

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extracts were examined by in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract on expression of melanogenic enzyme proteins including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activitie. Our results indicated that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract effectively inhibited free radical generation. In DPPH and hydroxy radical scavenging activity, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. They significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Also, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb suppressed the expression of tyrosinase in B16BL6 melanoma cells. These results show that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb inhibited melanin production on the melanogenesis. The underlying mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb on whitening activity may be due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity. We suggest that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb may be useful as new natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2014

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR), the roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, is used to nourish the blood and yin and used for preventing premature greying of the hair. There are some articles on its preventing effects on the melanogenesis. However, there is no report about its effects on the collagen and elastin. The present study was designed to investigate its effects on collagen metabolism and elastase activity. Methods : The effects of PMR on type I procollagen production and collagenase activity in human normal fibroblasts Hs68 after UVB (312 nm) irradiation were measured by ELISA method. Cells were pretreated with the PMR for 24 hours prior to UVB irradiation. After UVB irradiation, cells were retreated with the sample and incubated for additional 24 hours. The amount of collagen type I was measured with a procollagen type I C-peptide assay kit. The activity of collagenase was measured with a MMP-1 human biotrak ELISA system. The elastase activities after treatment of PMR were measured as well. Results : In the present study, the collagen production was not increased. However, the increased collagenase activity after UVB damage was significantly recovered to $50.2{\pm}14.5%$, $8.2{\pm}3.1%$, and $10.0{\pm}3.3%$ (10, 30, and $100{\mu}g/ml$). The elastase activities (10, 100, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$) significantly reduced to $75.2{\pm}5.2%$, $40.3{\pm}1.2%$, and $27.0{\pm}1.9%$, respectively. Conclusion : PMR showed the inhibitory effects on collagenase and elastase activity. These results suggest that PMR may have potential as an anti-aging ingredient in cosmetic herbal treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2017

Myelophycus simplex Papenfuss, a type of brown algae, is known to be majorly distributed in along the southern coast of Korea and Japan. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of M. simplex Papenfuss methanol extract (MSPME) on melanogenesis in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. Melanin contents of B16F10 melanoma cells were decreased by 27, 41, and 59% in a dose-dependent manner, upon MSPME treatment at 100, 300, and $500{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Tyrosinase activities in B16F10 melanoma cells were decreased by 18, 49, and 61% in a dose-dependent manner, upon MSPME treatment at 100, 300, and $500{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. MSPME suppressed expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, tyrosinase-related protein-2, and melanocyte-inducing transcription factor in B16F10 melanoma cells. Concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$ of MSPME especially induced greater decreases in tyrosinase activity, melanin contents, and melanogenic enzyme protein expressions. This results indicate that MSPME inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, and M. simplex Papenfuss extract may be an ideal candidate as a skin whitening agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the whitening effect of aerial part of Pueraria lobata and mechanisms. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, dose-dependently reduced the melanin content. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, significantly decreased cellular tyrosinase activity, while there was not any effect on tyrosinase in cell-free conditions. To elucidate the mechanisms behind the aerial part of Pueraria lobata, treated melanogenesis regulation, the expressions of melanogensis related genes, proteins, and the activity of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ were determined. Aerial part of Pueraria lobata, significantly inhibited gene and protein levels of MITF, tyrosinase and TRP-1. It suppressed the ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, leading to inhibition on the maturation of tyrosinase. Also aerial part of Pueraria lobata, was observed to have the high antioxidant activity. These results suggested that whitening effect of aerial part of Pueraria lobata, should be due to the down-regulation of MITF, tyrosinase and TRP-1 expression and the intercepting maturation of tyrosinase through suppressing ${\alpha}-glucosidase$. Another should be the high anti-oxidant activity. The findings show the possibility that aerial part of Pueraria lobata, can be used as a potential skin-whitening agent.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2018

Matricaria chamomilla L. has been used as a bath agent in Europe because of its sterilization effect on the skin. Flowers contain terpenes, flavonoids are effective in relieving inflammation. Matricaria chamomilla L. has been reported to have various drug efficacies such as sedation, anti-diabetic effect and anti-arthritic effect, but there is little research on the scientific efficacy of whitening effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the whitening effect of Matricaria chamomilla L. extract and to investigate the mechanism of inhibition of melanogenesis. The extracts were used to determine tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of extracts was ineffective for water extract but in 60% ethanol extract was shown in a concentration-dependent manner. B16F10 melanoma cell was measured using a powder obtained by lyophilization of 60% ethanol extract. The toxicity was observed at a concentration of $75{\mu}g/mL$. And concentration range was selected to be at most $50{\mu}g/mL$. The effect of tyrosinase, MITF, TRP-1 and TRP-2 on the expression of melanin protein was investigated in melanoma cells of B16F10 melanoma cells. As a result, it was confirmed that as the concentration of the extract increased, the melanogenesis level decreased and the protein expression level also decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Therefore, it was concluded that Matricaria chamomilla L. extract inhibited melanogenesis in cells. Based on the above results, it is expected that it will be used as a useful basic data for industrialization of whitening functional food of Matricaria chamomilla L.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Hovenia dulcis (oriental raisin tree) extract on ganodermanondiol (GN) contents in Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) mycelia. GN has a triterpenoid structure and is one of the major active components of G. lucidum. Furthermore, we previously proved its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. In this study, we observed significantly increased GN contents in G. lucidum mycelial extracts supplemented with 15% (v/v) oriental raisin tree extract (ORTE) by HPLC analysis. In addition, melanogenesis was significantly inhibited by G. lucidum extract supplemented with 15% ORTE when compared to G. lucidum extract without ORTE supplementation. Furthermore, mycelial growth of G. lucidum was increased by ORTE supplementation in both solid and liquid cultivation. These results suggest that the oriental raisin tree is useful as natural ingredient for increasing GN biosynthesis as well as whitening effect of G. lucidum.