• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2018

Isoflavone itself is less available in the body without the aid of intestinal bacteria. In this study, we searched for isoflavone-transforming bacteria from human fecal specimens (n = 14) using differential selection media. Isoflavone-transforming activity as the production of dihydrogenistein and dihydrodaidzein was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography and we found Lactobacillus rhamnosus, named L. rhamnosus vitaP1, through 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Extract from Pueraria lobata (EPL) and soy hypocotyl extract were fermented with L. rhamnosus vitaP1 for 24 and 48 h at $37^{\circ}C$. Fermented EPL (FEPL) showed enhanced anti-tyrosinase activity and antioxidant capacities, important suppressors of the pigmentation process, compared with that of EPL (p < 0.05). At up to $500{\mu}g/ml$ of FEPL, there were no significant cell cytotoxicity and proliferation on B16-F10 melanoma cells. FEPL ($100{\mu}g/ml$) could highly suppress the content of melanin and melanosome formation in B16-F10 cells. In summary, Lactobacillus rhamnosus vitaP1 was found to be able to biotransform isoflavones in EPL. FEPL showed augmented anti-melanogenic potential.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2014

Synthetic compounds that are used in the clinic to regulate skin hyperpigmentation, such as arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid, are only moderately effective. But, their use is limited by side effects. As part of an effort to overcome the limitations, we developed resveratrol-enriched rice (RR) using genetic engineering technique. Each of resveratrol and rice has been reported to produce anti-melanogenic effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that RR would show more anti-melanogenic effects than those of resveratrol or rice alone. Anti-melanogenic effect of RR was done by using melan-a mouse melanocytes. The depigmenting efficacy was then observed following topical application of the RR to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of guinea pigs. Treatment with RR extract resulted a $21.4{\pm}0.7%$ decrease in tyrosinase expression at melan-a cells. Colorimetric analysis showed a significantly lower depigmenting value by day 9 following treatment with RR in UVB-irradiated guinea pigs the dorsal skin (p<0.01), indicating that RR produced a depigmentation effect. By staining with Fontana-Masson stain, we found that the RR-treated group had more effect histopathologically in epidermal melanin production than resveratrol or rice alone-treated group. RR was associated with reduction in the levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and downregulation of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2) expression, leading to inhibit epidermal melanin production by western blot analysis. This study suggests that the resveratrol-enriched rice may be a promising candidate in regulating skin pigmentation with UVB exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.550-555
• /
• 2013

Extrinsic skin aging is characterized by the loss of skin tone and resilience, irregular pigmentation, and deep wrinkles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ehwa Makgeolli containing oriental herbs (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Lycium chinense MILL., Morus alba L., and Saururus chinensis Baill) on skin whitening and wrinkling in human skin cells. We prepared Makgeolli extracts (HEE) with 70% ethanol. HEE significantly inhibited in vitro mushroom tyrosinase activity and reduced the cellular and secreted melanin content of mouse melanoma melanocytes (B16F1 cells). HEE down-regulated the protein expression of tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-1/-2, a key player in melanogenesis. Treatment with HEE in human keratinoctyes (HaCaT cells) inhibited the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 in a dose-dependent manner and dramatically reduced the expression of MMP-2/-9. In addition, HEE attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). These results indicate that HEE may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening, anti-wrinkle, and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4 s.48
• /
• pp.485-489
• /
• 2004

Melanin pigmentation in human skin is a major defensive mechanism against ultraviolet light of the sun. Tyrosinase plays a key role in the biosynthesis of melanin. This is why many researches have been focused on regulations in controlling the epidermal melanization. We found that extract of Canavalia lineata inhibits mushroom tyrosinase activity, dopa oxidase activity, and melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. To elucidate mRNA level reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used. It was revealed that A subfraction of $CHCI_3$ extract of Canavalia lineara reduced the tyrosinase mRNA expression of B16F10 melanoma cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.70-75
• /
• 1996

DMHF (2.5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3[2H]-furanone), an antioxidative compound from the reaction of L-cysteine/D-glucose scavenged efficiently 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radicals. It exhibited an inhibitory effect on the autoxidation of linolenic acid, and the protective effect against UV cytotoxicity in cultured human fibroblast. In addition, DMHF appeared to prevent the cellular melanogenesis in the cultured murine melanoma cells more effectively than kojic acid, a well known inhibitor of melanogenesis, while the former was not so effective as the latter for the inhibition of the tyrosinase. Considering that cellular melanogenesis is a metabolic process triggered by oxidative stress, it ovas tentatively deduced that the antioxidative property of DMHF might afford the effect against cellular pigmentation by alleviating the causative stress. In toxicological tests such as irritation and sensitization, this compound turned out to be safe. The results of this study suggest that DMHF may be a novel inhibitor of melanogenesis, and that night be useful for application in cosmetics.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.126-135
• /
• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Sae-ssack(sprout) therapy on atrophic acne scars. Methods : Twenty patients had atrophic acne scars on the face were treated with Sae-ssack therapy. Sae-ssack therapy consists of a total of three treatments, a first-stage Sae-ssack acupuncture, a second-stage texture treatment, and a third-stage anti-pigmentation therapy. The evaluation of the treatment effect was made by the Korean medical doctor who did not participate in the procedure, and the PGA(Physician's Global Assessment), QGASC(Qualitative Global Acne Scarring Grade System) and patient satisfaction were used as the evaluation index. Results and Conclusions : According to the above indicates, the Sae-ssack therapy was evaluated to be effective in the repair of atrophic acne scars. There were no visible or consistent side effects and patient satisfaction was also very high.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.24-31
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the melanogenesis inhibitory activity of epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG) isolated from Polygonum amphibium L. ECG was isolated from the ethanol extract of P. amphibium L, and its chemical structure was determined using spectroscopic methods such as LC-ESI-MS, 1D-NMR, and UV spectroscopy. ECG inhibited the melanogenesis of B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, it decreased the melanin content by 27.4% at 200 µM concentration, compared with the control, in B16F10 cells, without causing cytotoxicity. It is noteworthy that the expression of three key proteins, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), involved in melanogenesis, is significantly inhibited by ECG. The ECG isolated in this study caused the inhibition of body pigmentation and tyrosinase activity in vivo in the zebrafish model. These results suggest that the ECG isolated from P. amphibium L. is an effective anti-melanogenesis agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.704-712
• /
• 2022

Research on whitening materials using natural alternatives is actively being conducted. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of Ranunculus chinensis Bunge (RCB) on melanogenesis and associated enzymes, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. We found that RCB extract significantly attenuated melanin synthesis and reduced the activity of intracellular tyrosinase, a rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. Western blot analysis showed that RCB extract decreased the protein expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In addition, it significantly decreased the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a key regulator of melanogenesis. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation has been reported to be involved in the inhibition of melanogenesis. Thus, we investigated whether the hypopigmentary effects of RCB extract were related to the activation of ERK. RCB extract induced ERK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it markedly inhibited body pigmentation in a zebrafish model. Our results suggest that RCB extract inhibits melanogenesis by activating ERK pathway-mediated suppression of MITF and its downstream target genes, including tyrosinase. Therefore, RCB extract can be used as a whitening agent in the development of functional cosmetics.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.820-829
• /
• 2003

One of the important function of skin is the protection from harmful environments. Many studies were carried out to keep the skin from wrinkling and pigmenting. Skin wrinkle and pigmentation could be caused' by the unusual disruption of connective tissue, the formation of free radicals and the radiation of ultraviolet. In this study, the extracts obtained from 23 different kinds of medicinal plants were examined whether they have inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase as well as free radical scavenging effect. All the extracts examined were obtained by using 70% (v/v) ethanol at $60^{\circ}C$. It has been found that there were two medicinal plants which have positive effects matching with the purpose of this study. The extract of Ephedra sinica stapf shows an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase ($IC_{50}$ = 83.7~$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), on elastase ($IC_{50}$ = $690{\mu}\textrm{g}$/ml), and also shows free radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50}$ = 29.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). The extract of Betula platyphylla Var. shows an inhibitory effect on elastase ($IC_{50}$ = 498.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), and free radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50}$ = 9$\mu\textrm{g}$/ ml). The aim of the study is to find the natural compounds which have function in skin-lightening, anti-wrinkling and anti-oxidation, with safe and active ingredients in cosmetic.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.707-713
• /
• 2015

Royal jelly has been widely used as a health supplement worldwide. However, royal jelly has been implicated in allergic reactions, and we developed a water-soluble royal jelly (WSRJ) without the allergy inducing protein. In this study, we aimed to identify the anti-melanogenic efficacy of WSRJ. B16F1 melanoma cells were first treated with 10 nM α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and then with various doses of WSRJ. In addition, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of melanogenesis-related genes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. WSRJ directly inhibited tyrosinase and cellular tyrosinase activity, which decreased melanin synthesis in α-MSH stimulated B16F1 melanoma cells a level comparable to that observed with arbutin. WSRJ decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, which was comparable to that observed with arbutin. WSRJ has strong anti-melanogenic activity, which invoice direct inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and suppression of expression of melanogenesis related genes. Results from this study suggests that WSRJ is a potential candidate for the treatment of skin pigmentation.