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

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.293-300
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Cinnamomum camphora on melanogenesis. The MeOH extract of Cinnamomum camphora inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity in dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it significantly suppressed the melanin production in melan-a cells at the concentration of $100{\mu}/m{\ell}$. The MeOH extract was partitioned with ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. Among them, the BuOH soluble fraction exhibited significant inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase. In addition, the BuOH soluble fraction reduced the melanin production in melan-a cells. But, the BuOH soluble fraction had less inhibition effects on melan-a cell originated tyrosinase. So, it was performed western blotting for melanogenic proteins (tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2)) using melan-a cells. The BuOH soluble fraction inhibited the protein expression of tyrosinase at the concentration of $100{\mu}/m{\ell}$. The results suggested that the BuOH soluble fraction of C. camphora might be a potent inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.485-490
• /
• 2014

Poria cocas has been reported to be effective in skin whitening. However, the direct effect of P. cocas ethanol extracts (PCEE) on melanin synthesis has not been scientifically studied. To elucidate the direct effect of PCEE on melanogenesis, a 3,4-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DOPA) synthesis assay, tyrosinase activity assay, and Western blotting for melanogenic proteins, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 were performed in mouse B16F1 cells. The results revealed that PGEE inhibited melanin production in a dose-dependent manner by blocking the synthesis of DOPA. Although the activation of tyrosinase was not affected, the expression levels of TRP-1 and TRP-2 were controlled. These results suggest that PCEE has a whitening effect, indicating that it may be a useful agent in the development of whitening cosmetics.

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

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.765-774
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Many facial burn patients suffer from hyperpigmentation and its treatment has been challenging. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has important physiologic effects on skin, including inhibition of melanogenesis, promotion of collagen biosynthesis, prevention of free radical formation, and acceleration on wound healing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Vitamin C iontophoresis for the treatment of postburn hyperpigmentation. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 93 patients who were admitted for the treatment of facial burn from February 2008 through February 2010. Among them, 51 patients were treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis to control postburn hyperpigmentation and 42 patients were not. Experimental group was chosen 20 of 51 patients who had been treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis and had normal facial skin on the comparable contralateral aesthetic unit. Control group was chosen 20 of 42 patients who were not treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis and had also contralateral normal aesthetic unit. The resulting color of 20 patients who were treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis was compared with the color of the contralateral normal facial skin using a digital scale color analysis. Results were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The analysis revealed significant improvement of hyperpigmentation in the experimental group compared to control group. The difference of intial value and the value in 6 months showed significant change. Mean (${\Delta}^{initial}$-${\Delta}^{6month}$) of experimental group was 11.61 and control group was 7.23. Thus, the difference between the experimental group and the control group was 4.38. Therefore, Vitamin C iontophoresis revealed significant improvement of hyperpigmentation in the experimental group compared with control group. Conclusion: Vitamin C iontophoresis is an effective treatment modality for postburn hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.375-380
• /
• 2018

We have previously found that mycelia culture broth of eight kinds of traditional herbal extracts fermented with Phellinus linteus (previously named as 8-HsPLCB) not only inhibited melanin and tyrosinase activity, but also reduced the contents of melanogenesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, in 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-stimulated B16F0 melanoma cells. For a further study, the effect of 8-HsPLCB against skin pigmentation in brown guinea pigs with ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation was investigated. 8-HsPLCB (3%) and arbutin (2%) as positive controls were applied topically twice daily for 4 weeks to the hyperpigmented areas. 8-HsPLCB showed skin-lightening effect as effective as arbutin, one of the most widely used in whitening cosmetics. Melanin index values as the degree of pigmentation showed a significant reduction week by week post 8-HsPLCB treatment and then substantially reduced by 4 weeks. The degree of depigmentation after 4 weeks of topical application with 8-HsPLCB was 32.2% as compared with before treatment (0 week). Moreover, using Fontana-Masson staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining, 8-HsPLCB reduced melanin pigmentation in the basal layer of the epidermis and epidermal thickness changes exposed to the UV-B irradiation as compared with non-treatment and vehicle treatment. The intensity of the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB was similar to arbutin. These results suggest that the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB might be resulted from inhibition of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase in melanocytes. To conclude, 8-HsPLCB treatment showed reduction of the melanin pigment and histological changes induced by UV irradiation in brown guinea pigs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.1051-1059
• /
• 2020

Overproduction and accumulation of melanin in the skin will darken the skin and cause skin disorders. So far, components that can inhibit tyrosinase, a melanin synthase of melanocytes, have been developed and used as ingredients of cosmetics or pharmaceutical products. However, most of existing substances can only inhibit the biosynthesis of melanin while melanin that is already synthesized and deposited is not directly decomposed. Thus, their effects in decreasing melanin concentration in the skin are weak. To overcome the limitation of existing therapeutic agents, we started to develop a substance that could directly biodegrade melanin. We screened traditional fermented food microorganisms for their abilities to direct biodegrade melanin. As a result, we found that a kimchi-derived Pediococcus acidilactici PMC48 had a direct melanin-degrading effect. This PMC48 strain is a new strain, different from P. acidilactici strains reported so far. It not only directly degrades melanin, but also has tyrosinase-inhibiting effect. It has a direct melanin-decomposition effect. It exceeds existing melanin synthesis-inhibiting technology. It is expected to be of high value as a raw material for melanin degradation drugs and cosmetics.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2006

Sphingolipid metabolites regulate many aspects of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In the present study, we have assessed the effects of the novel phytosphingosine derivative, N-acetylphytospingosine (NAPS), on the depigmentation of murine B16F10 melanoma cells, and have also attempted to identify the possible signaling pathway involved, in comparison with $C_{2}-ceramide$. NAPS and $C_{2}-ceramide$ both inhibited the growth of the B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Melanin content and tyrosinase activity were significantly reduced in response to treatment with NAPS and $C_{2}-ceramide$ at concentrations in a range between $1-5\;{\mu}M$. However, the levels of tyrosinase mRNA, as well as the levels of tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2) genes and the level of tyrosinase protein remained unaffected by treatment with either NAPS or $C_{2}-ceramide$. We also attempted to determine the signaling pathway exploited by NAPS and $C_{2}-ceramide$. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of Akt/PKB at serine 473 by NAPS was reduced at the 5 minute mark, whereas $C_{2}-ceramide$ induced the phosphorylation of Akt/PKB at serine 473. Finally, Akt/PKB activity in the NAPS-treated cells was elevated in comparison with the untreated cells. LY294002, a specific PI3-K inhibitor which is located upstream of Akt/PKB, inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt/PKB, but induced an increase in melanin synthesis. These results suggest that the activation of Akt/PKB at serine 473 is related with the suppression of melanin production in the B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Therefore, the mechanisms exploited by NAPS and $C_{2}-ceramide$ responsible for the depigmentation of B16F10 cells were concluded to involve the inhibition of melanosomal tyrosinase activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.3795-3802
• /
• 2012

Cochinchina momordica seeds (CMS) have been widely used due to antitumor activity by Mongolian tribes of China. However, the details of the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, we found that an EtOAc (ethyl ester) extract of CMS (CMSEE) induced differentiation and caused growth inhibition of melanoma B16 F1 cells. CMSEE at the concentration of $5-200{\mu}g/ml$ exhibited strongest anti-proliferative effects on B16 F1 cells among other CMS fractions (water or petroleum ether). Moreover, CMSEE induced melanoma B16 F1 cell differentiation, characterized by dendrite-like outgrowth, increasing melanogenesis production, as well as enhancing tyrosinase activity. Western blot analysis showed that sustained phosphorylation of p38 MAP accompanied by decrease in ERK1/2 and JNK dephosphorylation were involved in CMSEE-induced B16 F1 cell differentiation. Notably, 6 compounds that were isolated and identified may be responsible for inducing differentiation of CMSEE. These results indicated that CMSEE contributes to the differentiation of B16 F1 cells through modulating MAPKs activity, which may throw some light on the development of potentially therapeutic strategies for melanoma treatment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.547-553
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of branch extracts of Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. VOB promoted melanin production in absence or presence of ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}-MSH$) in B16F10 cells. However, VOB did not affect the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 associated with melanin synthesis at the mRNA and protein levels in B16F10. But, VOB decreased TRP-2 protein level and induced tyrosinase activation in B16F10 cells. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase knockdown attenuated VOB-mediated melanin synthesis. In conclusion, VOB may stimulate melanin synthesis through activating tyrosinase activity.