• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.70-74
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• 2003

Cornis fructus has been traditionally used for treating allergy, asthma, hepatitis, and chronic nephritis. It major chemical constituents have been saponins, phenolic acids and loganin. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of methanol extract from Cornis fructus on melanogenesis. Cell were cultured in the presence of methanol extracts from Cornis fructus for 48 h, and there were estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis. Methanol extract from Cornis fructus increased the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, it was observed that only methanol extract $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ stimulated the melanin secretion in B16/F10 melanoma cells by 152% at 48 h treatment and the activity of tyrosinase was increased by 261% in the presence of same concentration.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.382-386
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• 2007

Cinnamomi Cortex (Lauraceae), the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia BLUME, has been used as traditional Chinese medicine for its stomachic, astringent, carminative, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal properties. Four compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of Cinnamomi Cortex, and their structures were identified as trans-cinnamic acid (1), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (2), bis(2-methylheptyl)phthalate (3), coumarin (4) by comparison of their physical and spectral data with those reported in the literature. These compounds were tested melanogenesis inhibitory effect on B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines. Among them, trans-cinnamic acid (1) showed the most potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis with $IC_{50}$ value of $13{\mu}g/ml$. Arbutin, positive control, exhibited an $IC_{50}$ value of $29{\mu}g/ml$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.252-258
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• 2016

Vitex trifolia L. has been used traditionally to treat various illnesses, such as inflammation, headache, migraine, and gastrointestinal infections. We analyzed and evaluated the composition of V. trifolia leaf oil. Based on the results, we isolated abietatriene from V. trifolia leaf oil and investigated the effect of V. trifolia leaf oil and its active compound abietatriene on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. They significantly decreased melanin contents and melanogenic factors, such as tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF dose-dependently in both protein and mRNA levels. Protein and mRNA expressions were determined by Western blot analysis and quantitative real time RT-PCR. Findings indicate that V. trifolia leaf oil and abietatriene reduce melanogenesis by regulating the expression of melanogenic factors. These results suggest that V. trifolia leaf oil and abietatriene could comprise a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation and used as effective skin-whitening agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.818-822
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• 2002

Fruits of Cornus Officinalis have been used as an astrinent, tonic and haemostatic in chinese medicine, contain a large amount of hydrolyzable tannins. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of Corni Fructus on melanogenesis. Cells were cultured in the presence of water extracts from Corni Fructus for 48 h, and there were estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis. Water extract from Corni Fructus increased the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent mammer. Especially, It was observed that 100 μg/ml only water extract stimulated melanin secretion in B16/F10 melanoma cells by 130% at 48 h treatment and activity of tyrosinase increased by 160% in presence of same concentration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of proline-serine (PS) and valine-serine (VS) dipeptides on melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells. Proline-serine and VS significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, though neither dipeptide directly inhibited tyrosinase activity in a cell-free system. Both PS and VS down-regulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. In a follow-up study also described here, the effects of these dipeptides on melanogenesis-related signal transduction were quantified. Specifically, PS and VS induced ERK phosphorylation, though they had no effect on phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). These data suggest that PS and VS inhibit melanogenesis through ERK phosphorylation and subsequent down-regulation of MITF and tyrosinase. Properties of these dipeptides are compatible with application as skin-whitening agents.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.268-284
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• 2003

Nor-aporphine derivatives have been discovered which interfere with the flux of Calcium into and out of the cell interior. It has been shown that adrenergic antagonists that block the Calcium exchange lead to an inhibition of Protein kinase C activity, thus blocking tyrosinase activation. Di-acetyl-dimethoxy-methyl-nor-aporphine is a semi-synthetic molecule of natural origin with very high potency. On B16 melanocytes as well as in normal human melanocytes the decrease in melanin synthesis reaches -50％ at a level of 40 ppm in the culture medium. On a molar concentration basis, this is 50 to 70 times stronger than Kojic acid inhibition. Yet, the cell viability is not affected. Reversibility studies show that after washing out of the active compound, melanogenesis returns to normal levels. Possible mechanisms of the activity are discussed. Tests carried out on SkinEthic(R) three-dimensional models of the epidermis and in vivo clinical studies on Asian population confirm the strong inhibition of melanogenesis. Safety evaluation of these molecules, on the other hand, demonstrates good skin tolerance and absence of toxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

Melanin determines phenotypic appearance and its election-opaque property protects cells from physical, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and chemical stimuli such as free radicals. However hyper-pigmentation is associated with various skin diseases such as keloid scar. The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of aqueous extracts from Angelica dahurica Benth. (AEAD) on ${\alpha}-Melanocyte$ stimulating hormone $({\alpha}-MSH)-induced$ melanogenesis in B16 mouse melanoma cell. Relative high doses ($5\;mg/m{\ell}$) of AEAD could inhibit melanin formation without apoptotic death in cells treated with ${\alpha}-MSH$. And also, ${\alpha}-MSH-induced$ activation of tyrosinase was inhibited in cells treated with AEAD. These results suggest that AEAD inhibit melanogenesis through inhibiting tyrosinase activity, and also, AEAD may apply to develop whitening drugs and cosmetics.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.824-829
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• 2010

Melanin synthesis is regulated by melanocyte specific enzymes and related transcription factors. $\beta$-carboline alkaloids including harmaline and harmalol are widely distributed in the environment including several plant families and alcoholic beverages. Presently, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were increased in melanoma cells by harmaline and harmalol in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Increased protein levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2 were also evident. In addition, immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses revealed harmaline and harmalol increased cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression. In addition to studying the signaling that leads to melanogenesis, roles of the p38 MAPK pathways by the harmaline and harmalol were investigated. Harmaline and harmalol induced time-dependent phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Harmaline and harmalol stimulated melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, as well as expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 and TRP-2 indicating that these harmaline and harmalol induce melanogenesis through p38 MAPK signaling.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.1 s.140
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

To develop an whitening cosmetics, we isolated the melanogenesis inhibitors from the unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae). Isolated compounds were identified as poncirin(l), naringin(2), bis(2-methylheptyl)phthalate(3), avenalumic acid methyl ester(4) by comparison of physical and spectral data with those reported in the literature. Among the isolated compounds, bis(2-methylheptyl)phthalate showed most potent inhibitory effect on the melanogenesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines$(IC_{50},\;36.8\;{\mu}M)$ compared with kojic acid$(IC_{50},\;150\;{\mu}M)$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract Salicornia herbacea (SHEE) on melanogenesis and mechanism. The SHEE on ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) induces melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. The effect of SHEE remarkably decreased protein expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase relate protein (TRP)-2 increased extracellular signal related kinase (ERK) on ${\alpha}$-MSH 100 nM induced melanogenesis on B16F10 melanoma cells at dose-dependent manner. It has been reported that the activation of ERK reduce melanin synthesis by down-regulating micro-phthalmia-associated transcription fator (MITF). These results sugggest that possibility of extracted korean medicinal herbs as a functional ingredient for whitening cosmetic formula.