• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

In recent times, the demand for edible medication for the treatment of hyperpigmentation has increased significantly. Therefore, the discovery of a stable, safe and inexpansive antimelanogenic component from natural substances, such as grains, is of particular interest. The levels and activities of some metabolites and/or enzymes can be increased. In the present study, we investigated the antimelanogenic effects of water-soluble extracts from barley (BE), malt (ME) and germinated barley (GBE) in melan-a cells. The inhibitory effects of ME and GBE on melanin production were significantly greater than that of BE. Interestingly, the content of ferulic acid, the proposed active component of barley, was also higher in ME and GBE than in BE by HPLC analysis. Western blot analysis of the expression of melanogenic enzymes in melan-a cells treated with BE, ME or GBE indicated the expression of both tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) significantly decreased after treatment with BE, ME or GBE. These results suggest that besides BE, ME and GBE also inhibit melanin production most likely through suppression of tyrosinase and TRP-2 expression. ME and GBE were more efficacious at inhibiting melanin production than BE was and may also represent potential skin-whitening agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.318-323
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• 2012

This study involved observation of the inhibitory effect of 70% EtOH and water extracts from Doinseunggitang on melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and western blotting using B16F10 melanoma cells. Doinseunggitang extracts inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dependent manner. As a result, it was found that Doinseunggitang 70% EtOH extracts inhibit melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, respectively, by 40% and 51%. In addition, western blotting analysis showed that 70% EtOH extracts inhibited tyrosinase, MITF, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expression. These results show that 70% ethanol extracts of Doinseunggitang could be developed as a skin whitening material in cosmetics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2012

Ramalin (${\gamma}$-glutamyl-N'-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazide) isolated from the Antarctic lichen Ramalina terebrata has been shown to have strong antioxidant activities in the previous study. To investigate additional activities of ramalin, we studied the effects of ramalin on melanogenesis in melan-a cells, a non-tumorigenic melanocyte cell line. At a non-cytotoxic concentration, ramalin dramatically decreased melanin synthesis in melan-a cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was more potent than arbutin, a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor. Ramalin inhibited cell-free tyrosinase activity directly and intracellular tyrosinase activity as well. Its inhibitory mechanisms on melanin production were further assessed, and we found that ramalin significantly decreased the protein levels of melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2). However, the mRNA levels of these enzymes were not altered. In a clinical study, application of 0.2 % ramalin on human skin significantly improved the degree of skin brightness after 3 weeks. In conclusion, ramalin has strong anti-melanogenic activity that is exerted both by the direct inhibition of tyrosinase activity and by down-regulation of melanogenic proteins. Furthermore, ramalin showed skin brightening effect in a clinical study. Collectively, these results suggest that ramalin may be a useful inhibitor for melanogenesis in skin.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2014

Dendrobium moniliforme (DM) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of antioxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening and anti-wrinkling effects of DM under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells and human dermal fibroblasts. The DM extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DM extract effectively suppressed the ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DM treatment. We also investigated the DM increased the production of type I procollagen and inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced mRNA expressions of MMP-1, -3 in the human dermal fibroblast. These results indicate that DM may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening and anti-wrinkle effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2018

Melanogenesis is involved in the pigmentation of the hair, eyes, and skin in living organisms. Various signaling pathways stimulated by ${\alpha}-MSH$, SCF/c-Kit, $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$, nitric oxide and ultraviolet activate melanocyte, leading to melanin production by tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expressed via the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). However, the abnormal regulation of melanogenesis causes dermatological issues such as graying hair and vitiligo. Therefore, the activators that promote melanogenesis are crucial for the prevention of graying hair and the treatment of hypopigmentary disorders. Many melanogenesis stimulators have been studied for the development of novel drugs derived from synthesized compounds and natural products. Here, in addition to providing a description of a common signaling pathway in the melanogenesis of graying hair and the vitiligo process for the development of novel anti-hair graying agents, this article reviews natural herbs and the active ingredients that promote melanin synthesis as a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of vitiligo. In particular, compounds such as Imatinib and Sugen with a stimulating effect on melanogenesis as a side effect of the drugs, are also introduced. Recent advances in research on natural plant extracts such as Polygonum multiflorum, Rhynchosia Nulubilis, Black oryzasativa, and Orysa sartiva, widely known as traditional and medicinal extracts, are also reviewed.

• 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.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the whitening effects of hot water (AMPW) and ethanol (AMPE) extracts of Mangifera indica L. peel. To verify the whitening effects, tyrosinase inhibitory activity was measured. 9.51% inhibitory activity, and 35.98% inhibitory activity at 1,000 ㎍/ml. The effects of AMPW and AMPE on cell viability were measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in B16-F10 melanoma cells. Greater than 95% cell viability was observed at 100 ㎍/ml. Thus, subsequent experiments were performed at concentrations less than 100 ㎍/ml. The whitening effects were confirmed by measuring the protein and mRNA expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2, which are factors involved in melanin synthesis. Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results confirmed that 100 ㎍/ml AMPW and AMPE showed superior inhibitory effects than the control treatment (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone only). Therefore, Mangifera indica L. peel extract had a whitening effect, and thus, has potential as a natural material for use in cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-melanogenic effects of the extracts from Decaschistia intermedia craib (EDI). In this study, we examined the effects of EDI on mushroom tyrosinase activity in in vitro, melanin contents, and expression levels of mRNA and proteins of melanogenesis-related genes in B16F10 melanoma cells. The treatment of EDI significantly decreased both tyrosinase activity and melanin contents in B16F10 cells with dose-dependent manner. In addition, we found that the expression of mRNA or proteins of melanogenic proteins, such as, a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH)-induced microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2 was significantly downregulated with dose-dependent manner in the EDI-treated B16F10 cells compared to controls. Our results suggest that the EDI inhibits cellular melanogenesis through downregulation of a-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis. Thus EDI may potentially be an effective whitening agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.445-454
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• 2023

Hair graying is the result of a malfunction in the signaling pathways that control melanogenesis, and it is activated by UV light, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), stem cell factor (SCF), Wnt, and endothelin-1 (ET-1). To prevent hair graying, synthetic and natural compounds can be used to stimulate melanogenesis effectively under the control of tyrosinase, tyrosine hydroxylase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). This article describes a crucial strategy to resolve the problem of hair graying, as well as recent advances in the signaling pathway related to melanogenesis and hair graying. In particular, the article reviews potentially effective therapeutic agents that promote melanogenesis, such as antioxidants that modulate catalase, methionine sulfoxide reductase, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activators including resveratrol, fisetin, quercetin, and ginsenoside. It also discusses vitiligo inhibitors, such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and palmitic acid methyl ester, as well as activators of telomerase expression and activity, including estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and dihydrotestosterone. Furthermore, it explores compounds that can inhibit hair graying, such as latanoprost, erlotinib, imatinib, tamoxifen, and levodopa. In conclusion, this article focuses on recent research trends on compounds that promote melanin production related to hair graying.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.298-304
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• 2015

Dendrobium loddigesii (DL) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening effects of DL under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells. The DL extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DL extract effectively suppressed the ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DL treatment. These results indicate that DL may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening effects.