• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2008

These days there is a constant possibility of exposure to UV radiation which can cause abnormal production of melanin and result in skin disease such as hyperpigmentation and melanoma. Many materials were investigated for skin whitening and protection against UV radiation. In this study, we assessed the melanogenesis inhibitory activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Ginseng Radix Rubra) and Ginkgo (EGb 761 Ginkgo Biloba) in an attempt to develop a new skin whitening agent derived from natural products. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated for 48 hr with KRG and EGb 761. The inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was measured and related cytokines and proteins expression were also investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, we also assessed the effects of these substances on the skin of C57BL/6 mice. Cell growth, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were inhibited effectively in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with KRG and EGb 761. Moreover, tyrosinase mRNA expression was inhibited clearly and melanogenesis related proteins (MRPs) containing tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 were also reduced by KRG and EGb761, while cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In the case of UV irradiated mice, we observed induction of cytokine mRNA levels and reduction of MRPs mRNA expression. In addition, a decrease in pigmentation from treatment with KRG and EGb 761 on the skin of mice was observed. These results indicate that KRG and EGb 761 inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and have display protective activities against UVB. Therefore, we suggest that KRG and EGb 761 are good candidates to be used as whitening agents and UVB protectors for the skin.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2007

Objective : In this study, herbal medicine(GJE, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis; HCT, Houttuynia cordata Thunb.; CIL, Chrysanthemum indicum Linne; PMS,Paeonia moutan Sims, P. subfruticosa Makino; APL, Agrimonia pilosa Ledebour) were screened for their inhibitory activities against Tyrosinase and PMA plus A23187-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 productions in HMC-1 cells to reveal their skin -whitening and anti-allergic effect. Method : To investigate Tyrosinase inhibition we treated Mushroom Tyrosinase(Fluka, 93898) $10{\mu}{\ell}$ and 7.5mM Tyrosine (Sigma, T3754) $20{\mu}{\ell}$ with 80% ethanol medicine extracts. Then we observed 96well micro plate extinction at 490nm. In the next experiment, to investigate Anti-allergic effect we blended cultured Human Mast Cells(HMC-1) with medicine extracts. We treated the blended solution with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) and A23187, then observed $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) at 450nm. Results : In inhibiting Tyrosinase the results are as follows. 1. We observed 22% inhibition of Mushroom Tyrosinase at $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration of GJE extracts. 2. We also could observe that the decreased Mushroom Tyrosinase activities in HCT, CIL extracts. In inhibiing $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 productions in HMC-1 cells the results are as follows. 1. Of the extracts examined, HCT, PMS, APL extracts showed over 50% inhibitions of Cytokines at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. 2. In particular, APL extracts showed the best inhibitory effect on Cytokine productions in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that GJE extracts contributes to the anti melanin activities and represent a potential source of whitening agent. Thus these herbal medicines suggest novel drugs on anti-allergic effects.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.362-367
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• 2011

The study was conducted to investigate functional materials as skin whitening and anti-inflammatory agent from Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum coreanum. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content in the ethanol extract of Taraxacum officinale were found to be 64.07mg/g and 32.46mg/g, respectively. In tyrosinase inhibitory activity, the hot water extract of Taraxacum coreanum was higher than the other extracts. However, in nitric oxide (NO) scavenging ability, the ethanol extract of Taraxacum coreanum was higher than the other extracts. the ethanol extract of Taraxacum coreanum showed strong NO production inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cell. In the cell viability measurement by MTT assay and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay against L929 cell, the extracts were exhibited fine cell viabilities and normal LDH release levels as nontoxic result in sample concentration of $250{\sim}1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. As a result, the ethanol extract and the hot water extract of Taraxacum coreanum could be applicable to functional materials for anti-inflammatory and skin whitening related fields, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of applying the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) as a tool to enhance the skin absorption of arbutin, a well-known skin-whitening agent. Arbutin solution or skin formulation was applied on the back of hairless mouse skin in vivo after IPL treatment, and then the skin deposition of arbutin was determined by HPLC. IPL treatment significantly increased the amount of arbutin in the skin after 6 hours when arbutin solution was applied 20 times. IPL also enhanced the skin deposition of arbutin when arbutin formulation was applied, although it was not significantly different. Significant increase of surface skin temperature was observed by IPL treatment, which might be a mechanism of the enhanced skin absorption of arbutin. These results suggest the feasibility of using IPL as a tool to increase the skin absorption of whitening agents, although further research needs to be conducted to understand its exact mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.681-684
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• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Flammulina velutipes extracts on tyrosinase activity and to identify its biologically active component. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts showed potent tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Subsequently, fractions of the n-butanol extract showed only a partial tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The most active compound of tyrosinase inhibitory activity was identified from the ethyl acetate extract as 1',3'-dilinolenoyl-2'-linoleoylglycerol (LnLLn) by comparing its mass, $^1H-$, and $^{13}C-NMR$spectral data with those previously reported in the literature. LnLLn showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$value of 16.1 ${\mu}g/ml$. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of F. velutipes could be applicable for the development of a new whitening agent.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 2017

Melanin is one of the most important factors affecting skin color. Melanogenesis is the bioprocess of melanin production by melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles and is mediated by several enzymes, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2, MITF. In this study, we investigated the effect of Artemisia fukudo Makino extracts on tyrosinase activity and melanin production as natural products of whitening functional cosmetics. Melanin content in murine B16F10 melanoma cells were decreased by Artemisia fukudo Makino extracts in a dose-dependently. In addition, the inhibition of tyrosinase activity of Artemisia fukudo Makino extracts showed to decrease tyrosinase activity as the concentration of ${\alpha}-MSH$ was increased. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed that Artemisia fukudo Makino extracts significantly downregulated the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 which treat of ${\alpha}-MSH-induced$ melanogenesis in murine B16F10 melanoma cells. As a result, Artemisia fukudo Makino extract showed functionalities as an effective whitening agent to inhibit melanin formation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2016

Anti-melanogenic effects of amaranth (AT), one of the key source of squalene, were investigated in melanocytes. Amaranth seed powder was extracted with water and melan-a cells were treated with various concentrations of AT. By using HPLC, content of myo-inositol, one of potential active components, was measured in the crude extract of AT.AT reduced the melanin content in melan-a melanocytes and down-regulated melanogenic enzyme activity such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. By regulating melanogenic enzyme activity, AT may be a potential natural source for whitening agent. Myo-inositol was detected in AT by HPLC and may be one of the active compounds from AT involved in the regulation of anti-melanogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that AT has anti-melanogenesis properties. This new function of amaranth may be useful in the development of new skin-whitening products and its value as food.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.192-198
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• 2000

Influence of the fluorescent whitening agent(FWA)'s adsorption on the whiteness of cotton and on the color change of the dyed fabrics was investigated by repeating wash cycles. Cotton 100% and cotton60/polyester40 blended fabrics were dyed pink, blue and yellow, and cyanuric chloride diamino stilbene(CC/DAS) and distyryl bisphenyl(DSBP) were used for the FWA with laundry detergents. Fabrics were washed at $20^\circ{C}$ with Terg-o-tometer. The FWA adsorption amount was measured by the absorption intensity for the pyridine-water extracted solution. The FWA adsorption increased on the cotton fabric with the wash cycles. Though adsorption of CC/DAS continuously increased up to the 20th cycle, that of DSBP increased sharply before the 10th cycle and reached an equilibrium. The whiteness of the fabrics dried in the shade was greater than that dried under the sunlight through window glass. The color change of dyed fabrics was increased by the number of wash cycles. Pink changed more greatly than blue, yellow or grey cloth. The color change(\Delta{E)}$ of dyed fabric washed repeatedly up to the 20th cycle with the detergent without FWA was less than 1. It is recommended to wash pale colored fabric with the detergent free of FWA.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2006

Rodgersia podophylla was a native medicinal plant cultivated in Korea. During the search for a new whitening natural herb, we found that underground part of Rodgersia podophylla showed inhibitory activity against melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by brocking tyrosinase activity. In addition, this plant exhibited protective effect on UV-B region. These results suggest that underground part of Rodgersia podophylla might be used as whitening agent for the skin.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.395-400
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• 2012

To investigate the possibility of development as a whitening agent using arctigenin, we measured DPPH assay, NBT/XO assay, intracellular ROS scavenging assay, tyrosinase assay and MSH-induced melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. Arctigenin dose-dependently had anti-oxidant activity in DPPH, NBT/XO and intracellular ROS assay. Although arctigenin did not inhibit purified tyrosinase activity, it dose-dependently inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16 melanoma cells stimulated by $1{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}$-MSH. In particular, arctigenin at a concentration $100{\mu}M$ inhibited ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated tyrosinase activity and melanin production by $50.9{\pm}2.9%$ and $69.0{\pm}6.5%$ respectively. And typical tyrosinase inhibitor, arbutin, inhibited $57.7{\pm}2.9%$ and $65.1{\pm}5.0%$ respectively. Such an similar inhibitory effect of arctigenin and arbutin in B16 melanoma cells may be due to the inhibition of MSH signal pathway rather than the direct inhibition of tyrosinase. Therefore, these results suggest that arctigenin may be useful for the development as whitening agents.