• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.364-369
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• 2013

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays an indispensable role in epidermal pigmentation in hyperpigmentary disorders due to a central role in melanogenesis. Nevertheless, precise mechanism involved in ET-1-induced hyperpigmentation is still undefined. Glycoprotein (transmembrane) non-metastatic melanoma protein b (GPNMB) is a key element in melanosome formation. Therefore, we speculated that GPNMB was correlated with ET-1-induced pigmentation. After culturing with ET-1, melanin synthesis was significantly up-regulated, accompanying with increased expression of GPNMB and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). Total number of melanosomes and melanin synthesis were sharply reduced via GPNMB-siRNA transfection, indicating ET-1-induced pigmentation by GPNMB-dependent manner. Furthermore, MITF-siRNA transfection strikingly inhibited GPNMB expression and the melanogenesis, and this suppression failed to be alleviated by ET-1 stimulation. All of these results demonstrated that ET-1 can trigger melanogenesis via the MITF-regulated GPNMB pathway. Taken together, these findings will provide a new explanation of how ET-1 induces hyperpigmentation, and possibly supply a new strategy for cosmetic studies.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.44-49
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• 2003

$\alpha$-MSH plays an important role in UV induced melanogenesis in human skin. It is believed to exert its effects by binding to $\alpha$-MSH receptor that in turn activates adenylate cyclase and increase melanocyte proliferation, dendricity and melanogenesis. In this study, we evaluated plant extracts showing the inhibitory activity on $\alpha$-MSH induced melanogenesis. The Cnidium officinale extracts showed high inhibitory activity on $\alpha$-MSH induced melanogenesis. It ($50{\mu}\textrm{g}$/ml) inhibited the melanin synthesis activated by $\alpha$-MSH in B-16 melanoma cells. Also, we isolated active compound from C. officinale extracts by Mass spectrophotometer, HPLC. It was identified as Senkyunolide A. It showed the same inhibitory activity as C. officinale extracts at the lower concentration. Finally, Senkyunolide A from Cnidium officinale extracts could playas $\alpha$-MSH antagonist and be used as a strong ingredient for skin whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 1999

Melanocytes, derived from neural crest, make melanin and protect skin from the hazardous ultraviolet light. Melanocytes with dendritic process has similar morphology with neurogenic cells and share growth factor receptors such as neurotrophin receptors. Melanogenesis can be regulated by ultraviolet light and inflammation of the skin. In addition, several factors such as hormone, cytokines, arachidonic acid can affect the proliferation and melanogenesis of melanocytes. For melanogenesis, melanocytes need expression of various genes including tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2. In addition, melanin need to be transferred from melanocytes to surrounding keratinocytes. The biology of melanocytes is complex and mechanism of melanocytes proliferation and melanogenesis is still under the investigation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-71
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• 2004

Melanin pigmentation has an essential role in protecting human skin against the damaging effects of ultra violet radiation, infection, environmental factor, etc. However abnormal melanin pigmentation can directly cause a number of congenital and acquired pigmentary skin disease. This study conducted to evaluate the effects of various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata on the melanogenesis in the B 16 melanoma cells. The cells were treated for 3 days with various partition extracts of Codonopsis lanceolata. While treatment with the BuOH partition extract of Codonopsis lanceolata increased significantly the tyrosinase activity and melanin content, the n-Hexane or ethyl acetate partition extract dose-dependently suppressed them compared with untreated control. But ethyl acetate partition significantly decreased the cell viability. The H2O partiton extract at various concentrations did not exhibit any significant change on the melanogenesis. These results indicate that treatment with the n-Hexane partition extract inhibits the melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, and raise the possibility that this extract may be effective in the abnormal melanin pigmentation as well as the whitening agent for the skin.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the melanogenesis inhibition effect of Saururus chinensis BAILL (SC) on in B16F10 melanoma cells. Methods : SC was fractionated ethanol extract by the hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. We confirmed the inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis of all fraction samples. Results : Hexane fraction of Saururus chinensis BAILL (HSC), ethyl acetate of SC (ESC), and butanol of SC (BSC) were discovered to inhibit tysoinase activity and melanogenesis in the absence or presence of ${\alpha}$-MSH. However, water fraction of SC (WSC) did not affect tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis. In addition, all fractions did not inhibit the catalytic activity of cell-free tyrosinase from B16F10 melanoma cell lines. Conclusions : These results suggest that HSC, ESC and BSC reduce pigmentation by indirectly regulating tyrosinase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.368-371
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• 2009

In the course of screening for the melanogenesis inhibitors, aspochalasin I was isolated from solid-state culture of Aspergillus sp. Fb020460. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis including mass spectroscopy and NMR analysis. Aspochalasin I potently inhibited melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells with an $IC_{50}$ value of $22.4{\mu}M$ without cytotoxicity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.97-99
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• 2001

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2008

These days there is a constant possibility of exposure to UV radiation which can cause abnormal production of melanin and result in skin disease such as hyperpigmentation and melanoma. Many materials were investigated for skin whitening and protection against UV radiation. In this study, we assessed the melanogenesis inhibitory activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Ginseng Radix Rubra) and Ginkgo (EGb 761 Ginkgo Biloba) in an attempt to develop a new skin whitening agent derived from natural products. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated for 48 hr with KRG and EGb 761. The inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was measured and related cytokines and proteins expression were also investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, we also assessed the effects of these substances on the skin of C57BL/6 mice. Cell growth, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were inhibited effectively in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with KRG and EGb 761. Moreover, tyrosinase mRNA expression was inhibited clearly and melanogenesis related proteins (MRPs) containing tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 were also reduced by KRG and EGb761, while cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In the case of UV irradiated mice, we observed induction of cytokine mRNA levels and reduction of MRPs mRNA expression. In addition, a decrease in pigmentation from treatment with KRG and EGb 761 on the skin of mice was observed. These results indicate that KRG and EGb 761 inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and have display protective activities against UVB. Therefore, we suggest that KRG and EGb 761 are good candidates to be used as whitening agents and UVB protectors for the skin.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.209-225
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• 2001

Recently many efforts were focused to understand the mechanical insights of melanogenesis to develop the agents for hyper-pigmentation and hypo-pigmentation. In the melanin biosynthetic pathway, tyrosinase is the rate limiting enzyme, and ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone(MSH) or cAMP-elevating agents stimulate melanogenesis and enhance the melanin synthesis and the tyrosinase activity. The author has analyzed the effects of Radix Trichosanthis on the basal melanogenic activities of B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells, and on the ${\alpha}$-MSH or forskolin-induced melanogenesis. Radix Trichosanthis alone markedly suppressed melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the cells with Radix Trichosanthis also suppressed the increase of ${\alpha}$-MSH (10 nM) or forskolin (20${\mu}M$)-induced melanin content and tyrosinase activity. The decrease in the tyrosinase activity was paralled by a decrease in the abundance of tyrosinase protein and tyrosinase promoter activity. Pretreatment of the cells with Radix Trichosanthis also inhibited the increase of forskolin($20{\mu}M$) induced the amount of tyrosinase protein and tyrosinase promoter activity. The results of DOPA staining revealed that pretreatment of the cells with Radix Trichosanthis showed less intensity than B16 melanoma cells stimulated with ${\alpha}$- MSH or forskolin. These results suggest that Radix Trichosanthis inhibits melanogenesis and abrogates ${\alpha}-MSH and cAMP-induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.130-136
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• 2002

Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. The heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan L.(C. sappan) has long been commonly used in Oriental folk medicines to promote blood circulation, and as an emmenagogue, analgesic or anti-inflammatory agent as well as a remedy for thrombosis. From the heartwood, many constituents have been purified and among them, brazilin and hematoxylin are two of the most abundant. This present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of butanol extract from C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. After 48 h treatment of these cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, of melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. The melanin content and tyrosinase activity were deσeased in extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. The butanol extract also resulted in a decrease of melanin content in ${\alpha}-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone (MSH)-induced melanogenesis, indicating that butanol extract of C. sappan could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.