• 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.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.277-282
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• 2022

Whitening effect of the extract of Phaseolus angularis (PA) shell was investigated for its potential application as a functional ingredient for cosmetic products. The tyrosinase inhibitory effect, which is related to whitening, was 76.4% at a concentration of 1,000 ㎍/ml. Cell viability of melanoma cells was measured to test toxicity of the PA shell extract at concentrations showing at least 90% viability. In addition, western blot and RT-PCR assays of the PA shell extract showed concentration-dependent decreases of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2 and tyrosinase protein and inhibitory effect of mRNA expression. These findings suggested that extract from PA shell has great potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient with whitening effect.

• 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.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2015

Tyrosinase inhibitors are an important component of cosmetic products. Our previous studies have proposed that eckol isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia cava, can be explored as a tyrosinase inhibitor. However, cellular activities and mechanism of action of eckol remain unknown. Therefore, the current study analyzed the eckol binding modes using the crystal structure of Bacillus megaterium tyrosinase. The effects of eckol on melanin synthesis induced by ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone in B16F10 melanoma cells were also investigated. We predicted the 3D structure of tyrosinase and used a docking algorithm to simulate binding between tyrosinase and eckol. These molecular modeling studies were successful (calculated binding energy value, $-115.84kcal\;mol^{-1}$) and indicated that eckol interacts with Asn205, His208, and Arg209. Furthermore, eckol markedly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We also found that eckol decreased the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP) 1, and TRP2. These results indicate that eckol is a potent inhibitor of melanogenesis, and this finding may be useful for the development of novel pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2021

This study verified the antioxidant and whitening activities of a Pinus koraiensis extract (PK) and a Hibiscus cannabinus L. extract (HC), and further evaluated the interaction of the extract ingredients when mixed at a 1:1 ratio (PKHC). The electron-donating and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities of the PKHC extract at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 93.7% and 94%, respectively, indicating a higher efficacy than achieved with either extract alone. Measurements of the tyrosinase the activities in response to PK, HC, and PKHC extracts at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentrations showed inhibitions of 40%, 27.5%, and 43%, respectively, confirming a higher efficacy of the mixture due to the synergistic action of the ingredients. The cell toxicity values in melanoma cells treated with PK, HC, and PKHC at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration were 87.4%, 80.2%, and 98%, confirming a higher viability in cells treated with the mixture due to antagonism. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase protein expression determined by Western blotting decreased by 53.9%, 64.8%, 67.3%, and 56.1%, respectively, when PKHC was administered at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) results also showed that PKHC at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml inhibited the mRNA expression of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase mRNA by 54.4%, 64.9%, 66.6%, and 63.1%, respectively. Taken together, the data confirmed the antioxidant and whitening effect of the PKHC extract and verified the possibility that this extract mixture has great potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.724-729
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• 2012

In this study, we evaluated the anti-melanogenesis effects of Caffeoylserotonin (CaS) in B16 melanoma cells. Treatment with CaS reduced the melanin content and tyrosinase (TYR) activity in B16 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. CaS inhibited the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), TYR, and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), but not TRP-2. ${\alpha}$-MSH is known to interact with melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) thus activating adenylyl cyclase and increasing intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Furthermore, cAMP activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) via phosphorylation, which phosphorylates MITF, thereby targeting the transcription factor to proteasomes for degradation. The CaS reduced intracellular cAMP levels to unstimulated levels and activated ERK phosphorylation within 30 min. The ERK inhibitor PD98059 abrogated the suppressive effect of CaS on ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis. Based on this study, the inhibitory effects of CaS on melanogenesis are derived from the downregulation of MITF signaling via the inhibition of intracellular cAMP levels, as well as acceleration of ERK activation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.93-114
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• 2007

Vaccinium uliginosum L. (VU) is a flowering plant in the genus Vaccinium has berry fruit. This study was performed to investigate the effect of water extract of Vaccinium uliginosum L. and fractions on inhibition of melanogenesis and wrinkle formation. One hundred grams of the Vaccinium uliginosum L. was extracted with 2,000 mL of water ($90^{\circ}C$, 16h, 2 times). The water extracts were lyophilized and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ until used. Vaccinium uliginosum L. extracts showed scavenger activities on DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen radical, dose dependently. And VU extract and fractions reduced melanin contents on B16F10 melanoma and inhibited the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-1) and dapachrometa utomerase (Dct, TRP-2). Moreover VU extract and fractions stimulated procollagen production and inhibited MMP-1 production in human fibroblast. And it decreased degree of wrinkle formation in hairless mouse skin that induced by DVB irradiation for 9 weeks. From the above results, it is possible that Vaccinium uliginosum L. may be developed to be the health functional food and functional cosmetics that have anti-melanogenesis and anti-wrinkle effect.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.556-563
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to verify the antioxidant and whitening effects of fermented Ambrosia trifida L. extract (ATFE) and to verify its usefulness as a cosmetic material. The antioxidant effects were measured by assessing the electron-donating capacity and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability of these extracts. ATFE was shown to have an electron-donation capacity of 68.4% at a concentration of 1000 ㎍/ml. While its ABTS+ radical scavenging ability was shown to be 58.7% at the same concentration. The ATFE tyrosinase inhibitory effect, which is related to skin-whitening, was shown to be 32.35% at a concentration of 1000 ㎍/ml and a cell viability assay using melanoma cells showed a 14.8% reduction in cell viability at a concentration of 100 ㎍/ml. Surviving cells were then used in western blot analyses to evaluate the protein inhibitory effects of ATFE at 25, 50, 100 ㎍/ml where β-actin was used as a positive control. The whitening effects of these extracts were also evaluated by western blot and show that the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factors, Tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP)-1, TRP-2 and Tyrosinase were all inhibited, 51.14%, 55.4%, 38.6%, 83.77% respectively, at 100 ㎍/ml ATFE. The efficacy of the whitening effects was verified and the suitability of ATFE as a cosmetic material was assured.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1452-1461
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• 2017

Melanin production by melanocytes in human hair follicles decreases with time and leads to the graying process, which is a phenotype of human aging and an index of aging. The reduction in melanin production is the result of decreased tyrosinase activity in hair follicles and an accumulation of active oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide. This study investigated antioxidant effects and melanin-promoting effects in B16F1 cells treated with black sesame ethanolic nonpolar-soluble extract (SBEEO) and black sesame ethanolic polar-soluble extract (SBEEP). In antioxidation experiments, both SBEEP and SBEEO did not eliminate 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, but SBEEO at $64{\mu}g/ml$ showed low reducing power. SBEEP exerted cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $8{\mu}g/ml$, whereas SBEEO showed cytotoxic effects at concentrations greater than $4{\mu}g/ml$. SBEEP and SBEEO induced melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and DOPA oxidase activity in vitro. In live cells, melanin synthesis was greater in the SBEEP treatment group as compared with that in the SBEEO treatment group. SBEEP stimulated melanin synthesis by modulating the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), which is an important enzyme in melanin synthesis. These results imply that SBEEP obtained from black sesame ethanolic extract may have the potential to improve melanin synthesis.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot, a green alga of the Codiales family, has been reported to have several bioactive properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its antiobesity and whitening effects and their underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the antiobesity and melanogenesis inhibitory effects of C. fragile using methanol extracts of C. fragile (MECF). The results of this study revealed that MECF inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets and triacylglycerol in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was associated with the inhibition of the expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), and C/EBPβ, which function as the key regulators of adipogenesis. Also, MECF reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin content in B16F10 cells as well as the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-related transcription factor in the presence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Taken together, our findings suggest that the extract of C. fragile could be considered a promising functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of obesity and skin pigmentation in the food and cosmetic industry.