• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.1 s.60
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• pp.53-60
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• 2007

(6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin ($6-BH_4$) cofactor is essential for various process, and is present in probably every cell or tissue of higher organism. $6-BH_4$ is required lot various enzyme activities, and for less defined functions at the cellular level. And it is well known about the antioxidant effects as a non-protein compound. Recently, scientists proposed another roles for $6-BH_4$ in melanogenesis. $6-BH_4$ is a well known tyrosinase inhibitor. In this study, we found that methyl-$BH_4$ and $6-BH_4$ have antioxidant activities and inhibitory activity for melanin synthesis. These pterin compounds were not toxic in HaCaT and B16F10 cells and showed scavenging activity against DPPH radicals. We also showed that pterin compounds decreased protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In a clinical test, pterin compounds showed the significant skin whiteining effect after treatment for 3 weeks. Furthermore pterin compounds significantly suppressed the UVB-induced expression of $PGE_2$ and IL-6 genes induced UVB In HaCaT and inhibited UVB-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. These results showed the effect of pterin compounds as a cosmeceutical ingredient.