• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1445-1453
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• 2013

Human skin is constantly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, polluted air, and chemical products. UV rays, in particular, will affect the skin in a variety of ways, including causing wrinkles, fine lines, rough skin, and xeroderma, thereby resulting in skin aging. This study aimed to investigate the whitening effects of Juniperus rigida Sieb., which is a cedar tree that is found throughout the world. The whitening efficacy that was measured by tyrosinase inhibition revealed 49.4% efficacy in water extract and 80.0% efficacy in ethanol extract. Among the B16F10 black cells, the effect of the ethanol extract was higher than the effect of the water extract in the restrain creation of melanin pigment, tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2). Thus, the results of these studies demonstrated that the ethanol extract had greater efficacy than the water extract and Juniperus rigida Sieb. Ethanol extracts could be utilized as materials for functional cosmetics, such as whitening products.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.95-95
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the effect of branch extracts from 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 level 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, it is thought that VOB may stimulate melanin synthesis through activating tyrosinase activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of ethanol extract of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (EAP)-reduced melanogenesis and diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., a perennial herbaceous plant, has been used as an antihemorrhagic, anthelminntic, and antiinflammatory agents in Chinese herbal medicine. In the present study, we observed that melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity of B16F10 cells were significantly decreased by EAP. However, EAP could not suppress tyrosinase activity in the cell-free system, whereas kojic acid directly inhibited tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, EAP decreased the protein expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related prootein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related prootein 2 (TRP-2). EAP scavenged DPPH radical up to 41% with 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. These results suggest that the hypopigmentary effect of EPA was due to regulation of tyrosinase protein.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2021

Whitening agents derived from natural sources which do not have side effects are sought after. Schizophragma hydrangeoides is an edible plant that grows wild on Jeju Island. We aimed to determine whether S. hydrangeoides extracts show anti-melanogenic activity. Here, we found that 70% ethanol extracts of S. hydrangeoides leaf suppressed α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. This activity of anti-melanogenesis in B16F10 cells were investigated by determining melanin content and tyrosinase activity, and by performing western blotting. The 70% ethanol extract downregulated tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1. In addition, the n-hexane fraction of S. hydrangeoides leaf (HFSH) exhibited significant anti-melanogenic activity among the various solvent fractions tested without reducing the viability of B16F10 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that extracts from S. hydrangeoides leaf can influence cellular processes via modulation of tyrosinase activity. Hence, S. hydrangeoides can be used as a whitening agent in the cosmetic industry and as a therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation disorders in the clinic.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2011

To evaluate the whitening effect of Camellia sinensis water extract (CSWE), CSWE was treated to melan-a cells. Total polyphenol contents and flavonoid contents of CSWE were 102 mg/g and 87 mg/g, respectively. The electron-donating ability of CSWE revealed a dose-dependent response, showing the excellent ability of 82% at 800 ${\mu}g$/mL, and which was higher than the arbutin (48%). The CSWE significantly (p<0.001) suppressed the melanin synthesis and the development of melanocyte dendrites was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The CSWE significantly (p<0.001) inhibited both intra-cellular and cell-extracted tyrosinase activities. And inhibitory efficacies of CSWE on both melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity were significantly (p<0.001) higher than the arbutin. The tyrosinase protein expression was not influenced by arbutin treatment. However, CSWE treatment significantly (p<0.001) reduced it. Both arbutin and CSWE treatment did not influence on mRNA expressions of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 and tyrosinase related protein-2.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Genus Artemisia occurs as a hardy plant and has a wide range of culinary and medicinal features. In this study, we aimed to describe the melanin inhibitory activity of one Artemisia species, i.e., Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Ethanol extracts of fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.FT) and non-fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.CT) were tested for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanin pigmentation. Both extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition against ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanin formation and tyrosinase activity, without cytotoxicity. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, both extracts showed greater inhibition than kojic acid, the positive control. Protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) at the transcriptional level were determined by using real-time and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To complete the mechanistic study, presences of upstream elements of MITF, the phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (p-MEK) were confirmed by using western blot analysis. Expressions of p-TYR, p-TRP-1 and p-TRP-2, downstream factors for p-ERK and p-MITF, were translationally inhibited by both extracts. Art.EtOH.FT induced more potent effects than Art.EtOH.CT, especially signal transduction effects. In summary, Artemisia capillaris extracts appear to act as potent hypopigmentation agents.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2012

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the skin depigmentation effect of the extracts of three herbs, Carthamus tinctorius seed, Cyperus rotundus and Schizonepeta tenuifolia. Their effects on tyrosinase and melanin synthesis inhibitory action were assessed. We found that the C. tinctorius seed ethanol extracts reduced the tyrosinase activity and melanin formation of B16F10 melanoma cells. The C. tinctorius seed suppressed the expression in microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16F10 melanoma cells. These results show that C. tinctorius seed inhibited melanogenesis on the B16F10 melanoma cell. The underlying mechanism of C. tinctorius seed whitening activity may be the inhibition of tyrisinase, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. The results suggested that C. tinctorius seed has considerable potential as a natural functional ingredient with a depigmentation effect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat a wide range of neurological disorders (e.g., paralysis and stroke) and skin problems (e.g., atopic dermatitis and eczema) in oriental medicine. This study was designed to investigate whether GEB extract inhibits melanogenesis activity in murine B16F10 melanoma. MATERIALS/METHOD: Murine B16F10 cells were treated with 0-5 mg/mL of GEB extract or $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin (a positive control) for 72 h after treatment with/without 200 nM alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) for 24 h. Melanin concentration, tyrosinase activity, mRNA levels, and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (Trp)1, and Trp2 were analyzed in ${\alpha}$-MSH-untreated and ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Treatment with 200 nM ${\alpha}$-MSH induced almost 2-fold melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity along with increased mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1 and Trp2. Irrespective of ${\alpha}$-MSH stimulation, GEB extract at doses of 0.5-5 mg/mL inhibited all these markers for skin whitening in a dose-dependent manner. While lower doses (0.5-1 mg/mL) of GEB extract generally had a tendency to decrease melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, and mRNA levels and protein expression of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2, higher doses (2-5 mg/mL) significantly inhibited all these markers in ${\alpha}$-MSH-treated B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects of the GEB extract at higher concentrations were similar to those of $400{\mu}g/mL$ arbutin, a well-known depigmenting agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GEB displays dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of MITF, tyrosinase, Trp1, and Trp2 in murine B16F10 melanoma. Therefore, GEB may be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1418-1424
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• 2010

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts were examined by in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts on expression of melanogenic enzyme proteins including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) in B16BL6 cells. Inhibitory effects of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex onto free radical generation were determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Our results indicated that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts effectively inhibited free radical generation. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex water extracts had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. They significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Also, Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in B16BL6 melanoma cells. These results show that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex inhibited melanin production on the melanogenesis. The underlying mechanism of Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex on whitening activity may be due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 expression. We suggest that Sorbus commixta HEDL cortex may be contain new natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.506-511
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• 2014

Commelina communis Ledeb is a widely used medication for the treatment of antidiabetic, antioxidant and hypoglycemic agent in Korea. Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH) is a major factor to stimulate melanin synthesis in the skin. The purposes of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of extract from Commelina communis Ledeb (ECC) on ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. ECC suppressed melanin synthesis and intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells or ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced B16F10 cells in a dose dependent manner. In study on the melanogenic protein expressions, it had especially influence on expressions of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-1). Tyrosinase and TRP-1 expressions were gradually decreased in a dose-dependent. Additionally, the extract also decreased the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced over-expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1. This results show that the anti-melanogenic activity of ECC is correlated with the suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 protein expressions in B16F10 cells.