• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2021

In this study, the whitening effect of Abelmoschus esculentus extract was investigated to confirm its applicability in cosmetics. To determine the whitening effect, the tyrosinase-inhibitory activity of Abelmoschus esculentus hot water extract (AEWE) and 70% ethanol extract (AEEE) was measured. At the final concentration of 1000 ㎍/ml, AEWE showed an inhibitory activity of 22.2% and AEEE of 32.8%. To determine the whitening effect at the cellular level, the viability of melanoma cells treated with AEWE and AEEE was evaluated using the MTT assay. At concentrations of 100 ㎍/ml or less, both AEWE- and AEEE-treated groups showed cell survival rates of >95%. Furthermore, in both AEWE- and AEEE-treated melanoma cells, the melanin content decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of AEWE and AEEE used at 5, 10, 50, and 100 ㎍/ml on protein expression were measured by western blot, with β-actin as the positive control. At a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml, AEWE showed an inhibitory effect of 88.1%, 24.8%, 62.2%, and 42.9% on microphthalmia-associated transcription factors (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 factors, respectively. At the same concentration, AEEE showed inhibitory effect of 65.3%, 58.3%, 66.2%, and 65.3% against MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 factors, respectively. In conclusion, the whitening effects of AEWE and AEEE were verified, and their applicability as a natural ingredient in cosmetics was confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.434-436
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• 2007

In the previous study, we reported the inhibitory effects of Rodgersia podophylla root extract on tyrosinase activity and melanin production in melan-a cells. However, mechanism of the inhibitory activity and in vivo assay were not yet examined. This study performed the examination of the effects of Rodgersia podophylla root extract on protein expression and in vivo depigmenting activity using melan-a cells and brown guinea pigs. As the results of western immunoblotting analysis, treatment of Rodgersia podophylla root extract reduced tyrosinase expression rates in 10 and 100 ppm concentrations, dose dependently. Moreover, Rodgersia podophylla root extract exhibited depigmenting activity on UV-B induced hyperpigmentation in brown guinea pig skin. These results suggested that Rodgersia podophylla root extract could act as whitening agent for the skin via not only direct tyrosinase activity inhibition but also reducing of tyrosinase expression.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.244-250
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• 2005

The copper-containing enzyme, tyrosinase, catalyzes the oxidation of tyrosine into dihydroxy phenylalanine (DOPA) and subsequently DOPAquinone. It is responsible, not only for the pigment melanin biosynthesis in human skin, but also for browning in foods. In the present study, tyrosinase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Korean mistletoe extract and its fractions were investigated. As a result, both water and methanol (MeOn) extracts inhibited the tyrosinase activity. Among the fractions, the fraction eluted with $95\%$ MeOn significantly inhibited the tyrosinase activity. The fraction was further purified, and the purified fraction C strongly inhibited the enzyme activity up to $92\%$. In addition, water and methanol extracts exerted radical scavenging effects. The fractions eluted with $70\%\;MeOn\;and\;95\%$ Me on showed high radical scavenging activities. In conclusion, these results suggest that Korean mistletoe extract and its fractions might be useful for the treatment of various dermatological disorders such as epidermal hyperpigmentation and for improving food quality.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.57-77
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• 2003

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the depigmentation effects of Barley, Unpolished rice, Job's-tear. Metbods: We investigated that the extracts of Barley, Unpolished rice, Job's-tear inhibit activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme which convert ts 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) alanine to dopachrom in the biosynthetic process of melanin, the UV absorbance of the extracts in the UV-A region and UV-B region was measured by UV scanning, the effect of extracts on cell viability and melanin production in cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells were measured, and cytoprotective effects of extracts on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide measured by MTT assay. Results: The extracts of Barley, Unpolished rice, Job's-tear inhibited activity of tyrosinase in low density. The Barley, Job's-tear extracts not only showed inhibitory effects on melanin production in cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells, but also exhibited cytoprotective effects on PC12 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide in low density. Unpolished rice extract showed inhibitory effect on melanin production in cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells, but did not showed cytoprotective effect Barley, Unpolished rice, Job's-tear extracts did not showed an absorbance effect in the UV-A region and UV-8 region. Conclusions: These results suggest that Barley, Unpolished rice, Job's-tear inhibit melanin biosynthesis which is involved in hyperpigmentation and could be used as a whitening agent.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2013

In order to develop new skin whitening agents, we prepared the EtOAc layer (AJE) after enzyme treatment of 75% EtOH extract of the Alnus Japonica Steud. We measured their tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16-F1 melanoma cells. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase but showed melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay, AJE suppressed melanin production up to 52% at a concentration of $40{\mu}g/mL$. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of AJE on melanogenesis, we measured expression of melanogenesis-related proteins by the western blot assay. As a result, AJE suppressed the expression of tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1) and microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF). Moreover, AJE increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK). These results conclude that ERK activation by AJE reduces melanin synthesis via MITF downregulation and is subsequent to the inhibition of TRP-1 expression. Therefore, we suggest that AJE could be used as active ingredients for skin whitening.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2009

In an attempt to find natural sources of antioxidants and whitening agents, Comparisons of the antioxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of various ethanol extracts of Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba and Acanthopanacis Cortex were carried out. Comparison of the four ethanol extracts revealed that, Astragali Radix had the highest electron-donating ability(72.5%) and the highest SOD-like ability(26.1%). The xanthine oxidase experiment exhibited a hindrance effect of 88.5% in Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, 81.1% in Acanthopanacis Cortex, 75.8% in Astragali Radix. A tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay was conducted to evaluate the whitening effects of the extracts, The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was 42.1% in the Acanthopanacis Cortex, 37.2% in the Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, 6.0% in the Astragali Radix. Based on these results, we suggest that the ethanol extracts of Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba and Acanthopanacis Cortex can be used as food and cosmetic ingredients.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.136-142
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• 2014

In an attempt to find natural sources of antioxidants and whitening agents, comparisons of the antioxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of various ethanol extracts of Cuscutae Semen, Rubi Fructus and Paeoniae Radix were carried out. Comparison of the three ethanol extracts revealed that, Paeoniae Radix had the highest electron-donating ability(79.3%),; however, Rubi Fructus had the highest SOD-like ability(31.1%). The xanthine oxidase experiment exhibited a hindrance effect of 74.3% in Cuscutae Semen, 80.4% in Rubi Fructus and 60.8% in Paeoniae Radix. A tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay was conducted to evaluate the whitening effects of the extracts, The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was 20.1% in the Cuscutae Semen, 54.2% in the Rubi Fructus, 56.3% in the Paeoniae Radix. Based on these results, we suggest that the ethanol extracts of Cuscutae Semen, Rubi Fructus and Paeoniae Radix can be used as food and cosmetic ingredients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2013

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of protopectinase enzymes and mechanical maceration from soybeans on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration were examined by an in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and by assessing markers in B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects on the expression of melanogenic enzymes, including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects on free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, enzyme treatment and mechanical maceration had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. There was also an inhibition in the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Our results show that soybean protopectinase treatment inhibits melanogenesis, with the underlying mechanism possibly due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. We suggest that soybean protopectinase should be contained as natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was conducted to identify the antimicrobial anti-oxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory effect of three kinds of herbal plants, Polygonum cuspidatum, Chelidonii herba, Pharbitis nil L. naturally grown across the nation. Methods : To investigate in vitro anti-oxidative activity assay, antimicrobial effect and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, MeOH 80% extract, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions of herbal plants were tested by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl(DPPH) method. Results : Bsutanol fractions of each plants showed about 90% on anti-oxidative effect. In case of tyrosinase activity, ethlyacetate fraction of Polygonum cuspidatum showed a potent inhibition effect. In the antimicrobial effect, ethylacetate fraction of Polygonum cuspidatu, hexane fractions of Chelidonii herba and the methanol 80% extracts of Pharbitis nil L. exhibited inhibition effect significantly. Conclusions : In MeOH 80% extracts, we couldn't found any extracts or fractions which have antimicrobial, anti-oxidative and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, however ethylacetate fractions of Polygonum cuspidatum showed effects commonly in these three assay system.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

In order to develop a new skin whitening agent, approximately 100 plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against melanin biosynthesis in cultured mouse melanocyte melan-a cells. As a result, seven extracts exhibited over 50% inhibition of melanin synthesis compared to control at a concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, Aster ageratoides Turcz. var. ageratoides (branch, root, aerial, flower; $IC_{50}$ = 17.3, 6.1, 13.6, $12.9\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively) and Physalis alkekengi var. francheti (leaf, unripen fructus, aerial; $IC_{50}$ = 6.5, 28.3, $23.9\;{\mu}g/ml$) markedly inhibited melanin synthesis. In addition, tyrosinase activity was monitored by the measurement of dopachrome formation from the oxidation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. Extracts of A. ageratoides Turcz. var. ageratoides (flower) and P. alkekengi var. francheti (leaf) showed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. These plants might be the potential candidate sources in the development of novel skin-whitening products.