• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.182-186
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture on melanin production in B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. Methods: To determine the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on B16/F10 cells, cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. To observe B16/F10 cell growth, death, and morphological changes, Trypan blue solution was used. The Hosoi method was used to investigate the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on melanin production. The Martinez-Esparza method was used to investigate the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution on tyrosinase activity. To determine the pathway involved in the melanogenesis in cells exposed to wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution, a cell-free tyrosinase was used. Results: Following treatment with $200{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng solution, the cell survival rate was $76.32{\pm}2.45%$ which significantly decreased with higher concentrations (${\mu}L$) of wild ginseng (up to $200{\mu}L$). When $100{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng was used, the cell survival rate was $89.95{\pm}2.07%$. No morphological changes or abnormalities were observed in the B16/F10 murine melanoma cells as observed in the Trypan blue test. Melanin production was significantly reduced to $72.17{\pm}3.74%$ at $100{\mu}L$. Using $100{\mu}L$ of wild ginseng solution, tyrosinase activity was significantly decreased to $80.15{\pm}1.05%$. Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution reduced melanin production both directly and indirectly. Conclusion: This study suggests that wild ginseng pharmacopuncture solution may be effective in inhibiting melanin production. Further studies are needed to determine safe and effective clinical applications.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.526-532
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the effect of 88 marine algae extracts on melanin synthesis to develop new whitening agents. Among varieties of marine algae tested, the ethyl acetate extracts from Endarachne binghamiae (EB), Scytosiphon lomentaria, Sargassum yezoense, Ecklonia cava and Sargassum fusiforme inhibited melanin synthesis in melan-a cells. EB treatment showed the strongest inhibitory activity in melanin synthesis, compared with that of other extracts. EB-mediated inhibition of melanin synthesis appeared to be associated with inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase-dependent glycosylation of tyrosinase in melan-a cells. In addition, EB treatment did not affect mushroom tyrosinase or cell-extracted tyrosinase activity in vitro. Taken together, our findings suggest that anti-browning effect of EB on skin is mediated through regulation of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity and subsequent inhibition of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis, and further development of EB as a potential agent 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.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

In recent times, the demand for edible medication for the treatment of hyperpigmentation has increased significantly. Therefore, the discovery of a stable, safe and inexpansive antimelanogenic component from natural substances, such as grains, is of particular interest. The levels and activities of some metabolites and/or enzymes can be increased. In the present study, we investigated the antimelanogenic effects of water-soluble extracts from barley (BE), malt (ME) and germinated barley (GBE) in melan-a cells. The inhibitory effects of ME and GBE on melanin production were significantly greater than that of BE. Interestingly, the content of ferulic acid, the proposed active component of barley, was also higher in ME and GBE than in BE by HPLC analysis. Western blot analysis of the expression of melanogenic enzymes in melan-a cells treated with BE, ME or GBE indicated the expression of both tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) significantly decreased after treatment with BE, ME or GBE. These results suggest that besides BE, ME and GBE also inhibit melanin production most likely through suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-2 expression. ME and GBE were more efficacious at inhibiting melanin production than BE was and may also represent potential skin-whitening agents.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of Angelicae gigantis Radix (AG) and Lycii fructus (LF) ethanol extracts on skin-whitening effects. Method : LFAG extracts were prepared by extracting with 80% ethanol. The efficacy of LFAG was judged by measurement of cell viability, tyrosinase activity, melanin production, tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression in B16F10 murine melanoma cells by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) treatment. Results : Each extract (LF or AG) inhibited the tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The co-treatment of LFAG extracts ($25{\mu}g/mL$ LF plus $25{\mu}g/mL$ AG) markedly suppressed the LPS-induced cellular tyrosine activity, melanin production, tyrosinase and MMP-1 expression in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. These suppressive effects were synergistically increased by their combination. Conclusions : With these observations, we suggest that the extracts from Lycii fructus and Angelica gigantis Radix could be potent natural materials for whitening skin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.371-376
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• 2008

In this study, we have investigated the hypo-pigmentary mechanism of methanol extract of Forsythiae Fructus in human melanocyte cell line, HM3KO. Treatment of HM3KO cells with Forsythiae Fructus extract markedly inhibited melanin biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Decreased melanin contents occurred through the decrease of tyrosinase protein and activity. The mRNA levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) were also reduced by Forsythiae Fructus extract. Moreover, the level of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) was significantly decreased by treatment of Forsythiae Fructus extract. These results suggest that Forsythiae Fructus reduces melanin synthesis by down regulation of tyrosinase mRNA transcription, and this is closely related to the cAMP-dependent pathway.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.21.1-21.8
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• 2018

In the present study, we first evaluated the melanin inhibitory effect of four crude 70% ethanol extracts separated from soft corals abundantly growing along the seawaters of Jeju Island, South Korea, including Dendronephthya castanea (DC), Dendronephthya gigantea (DG), Dendronephthya puetteri (DP), and Dendronephthya spinulosa (DS). Among the four ethanol extracts, the ethanol extract of DP (DPE) did not possess any cytotoxic effect on B16F10 cells. However, all other three extracts showed a cytotoxic effect. Also, DPE reduced the melanin content and the cellular tyrosinase activity without cytotoxicity, compared to the ${\alpha}-MSH$-stimulated B16F10 cells. Specifically, DPE downregulated the expression levels of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor by activating the ERK signaling cascade in ${\alpha}-MSH$-stimulated B16F10 cells. Interestingly, the melanin inhibitory effect of DPE was abolished by the co-treatment of PD98059, an ERK inhibitor. According to these results, we suggest that DPE has whitening capacity with the melanin inhibitory effects by activating ERK signaling and could be used as a potential natural melanin inhibitor for cosmeceutical products.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Fagopyrum escuentum(FE) on the melanogenesis. To determine whether ethanol extract of FE suppress melanin synthesis in cellular level, B16F10 melanoma cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of FE ethanol extract. In the present study, the author examined the effects of FE ethanol extract on cell proliferation, melanin contents, tyrosinase activity. Cell proliferation was slightly increased by treatment with ethanol extract of FE (25-200 ${\mu}$g/ml). The ethanol extract of FE effectively suppressed melanin contents at a dose of 100 ${\mu}$g/ml. It was observed that the color of cell pellets was totally whitened compared with the control. The ethanol extract of FE inhibited tyrosinase activity, regulate melanin biosynthesis as the key enzyme in melanogenesis. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of FE exerts its depigmenting effects through the suppression of tyrosinase activity. And it may be a potent depigmetation agent in hyperpigmentation condition.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2019

Background: This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of Galgeungyulpitang for whitening and elasticity treatment by examining its effect on melanoma cells. Methods: The effects of Galgeungyulpitang on B16/F10 melanoma cell viability, production of melanin, tyrosinase and elastase, were investigated. Cell viability was measured by colorimetric assay that assesses cell metabolic activity (MTT assay). Melanin was measured by Hosei's method, tyrosinase was measured by Yogi's method and elastase was measured by James's method. Results: At concentrations higher than $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, cell viability was significantly reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$). At concentrations of $500{\mu}g/mL$ and lower, morphological changes were not observed. The rate of melanin synthesis was significantly reduced to $73.49%{\pm}2.92%$ at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang compared with untreated cells (p < 0.05). Extracellular tyrosinase production was not significantly decreased in vitro, however, intracellular tyrosinase production was significantly reduced to $76.06%{\pm}2.17%$ when treated with Galgeungyulpitang at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ compared with the control (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 1 production was significantly reduced to $74.98%{\pm}3.24%$ and $69.62%{\pm}4.66%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, respectively (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 4 production was significantly reduced to $72.77%{\pm}3.52%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results in this study showed that Galgeungyulpitang may inhibit melanin and tyrosinase synthesis, and inhibit elastase production, suggesting that Galgeungyulpitang may be potentially beneficial for skin whitening and loss of skin elasticity treatments.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

Water chestnut is fruits of Trapa natans var. bispinosa grown wild in Korea. In this study, water chestnut was investigated for anti-pigmentation. Treatment with ethanolic extracts of water chestnut significantly reduced production of melanin in α-MSH simulated B16F10 cells. At 200 ㎍/mL ethanolic extracts of water chestnut, melanin contents were repressed by 43.26% compared to the control group. Additionally, ethanolic extracts of water chestnut reduced expression and activity of tyrosinase, key enzyme in melanogenesis, in α-MSH simulated B16F10 cells. Ethanolic extracts of water chestnut downregulated tyrosinase activity and expression to 23.65% and 62.35%, respectively. These results suggest that ethanolic extracts of water chestnut might be used as a promising whitening ingredients for inhibition of α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis and pigmentation.