• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 2015

The half-dried leaves of Stewartia. pseudocamellia were extracted with hot water (SPE) and partitioned with n-hexane (SPEH), dichloromethane (SPED), and ethyl acetate (SPEE) successively. SPE and SPEE showed significant inhibitory effects against melanogenesis and tyrosinase activities. By bioassay-guided isolation, ten phenolic compounds were isolated by column chromatography from SPEE. The whitening effect of the isolated compounds from SPEE were tested for the inhibitory activities against melanogenesis using B16 melanoma cells, in vitro inhibition of tyrosinase, and L-3,4-dihydorxy-indole-2-carboxylic acid (L-DOPA) auto-oxidation assay. A cytotoxic activity assay was done to examine the cellular toxicity in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. Of the compounds isolated, gallic acid and quercetin revealed significant inhibitory activities against melanogenesis compared to arbutin. In particular, quercetin exhibited similar inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and L-DOPA oxidation without cytotoxicity. These results suggested that SPE could be used as a potential source of natural skin-whitening material in cosmetics as well as in food products.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2021

The demand for natural substances with anti-melanogenic activity is increasing due to the recent interest in skin whitening. Intensive investigation on the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. SCO-736, a marine bacterium from the Antarctica coast, has led to the isolation of a new natural product named antaroide (1). The chemical structure was established through the interpretation of MS, UV, and NMR spectroscopic data. Antaroide is a nine-membered macrolide with lactone and lactam moieties. To investigate its applicability in skin whitening cosmetics, its anti-melanogenic activity in B16F10 murine melanoma cells was examined. As a result, antaroide displayed strong inhibitory activities against melanin synthesis and also attenuated the dendrite formation induced by the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Antaroide suppressed the mRNA expression of the melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. This suggests that it may serve as a transcriptional regulator of melanogenesis. Collectively, the discovery of this novel natural nine-membered macrolide and its anti-melanogenic activity could give new insights for the development of skin whitening agents.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.399-403
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• 2002

Three melanogenesis inhibitors were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum nigrum L. and were identified as (3S,20S,25S)-22,26-iminocholesta-5,22(N)-dien-3-ol (verazine), (3S,2OR,25S)-22,26-iminocholesta-5,22(N)-dien-3-ol (epi-verazine) and (3R,23R)-14,15,16,17- tetradehydroveratraman-3,23-diol (veratramine) on the basis of their spectroscopic data. It was turned out that these compounds did not directly inhibit tyrosinase activity, the key enzyme responsible for the formation of melanin pigment while these compounds showed strong inhibition on the melanogenesis in B16 F1 mouse melanoma $(IC_{50}<1\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Due to the strong inhibitory activity and safety compared to current whitening agents such as arbutin, kojic acid and AHA, the compound can be a good candidate for new skin whitening agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2011

In order to investigate the potential of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics, we prepared N. sativa oil. We measured its inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, cellular tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells. N. sativa oil and its components showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. In a melanin synthesis inhibition assay using mouse B16-F10 melanoma cell, it reduced melanin production up to 86 % at a concentration of 10 mg/mL without cytotoxicity. In the study on the melanogenic protein expressions by using RT-PCR and Western blot, N. sativa oil and its components inhibited expression of tyrosinase protein, which is a well-known key protein on melanogenesis, and tyrosinase expression was gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, this result suggests that N. sativa oil could be used as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.334-347
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• 2013

This study obtains information required for a comprehensive understanding of the brand-switching behavior by cosmetics consumers and for the establishment of effective strategies to make customers more loyal to the company. The study examines the relationships between customer shopping orientation and brand switching motives with respect to cosmeceuticals. A descriptive survey method using a self-administered questionnaire was employed. The sample consisted of 1,258 females between the ages of 20's and 30's residing in Seoul and the Gyeonggi area who use whitening products, sunscreen, or other anti-aging cosmetics. The results showed that shopping orientation influenced brand-switching motives in regards to purchasing cosmeceuticals. The orientation of depending on information and seeking fashion trend were the major factors to induce brand-switching behavior in purchasing whitening products, sunscreen, and anti-aging treatments. However, there were differences in the type of factors of shopping orientation and in their intensity of affecting brand-switching motives depending on the specific cosmeceuticals. In particular, in the case of sunscreen, as compared to other products, the customer shopping orientation should be considered from more diverse perspectives in order to formulate effective marketing strategies related to brand switching. In light of these results, customer shopping orientation with respect to cosmeceuticals is a variable that influences the cause brand switching. Therefore, differentiated marketing strategies that reflect the different characteristics of shopping orientation according to each item of cosmeceuticals are recommended to improve the satisfaction level of the companies' target market. Current consumer needs for practical benefits and for new products should be simultaneously reflected in the plans for new product development of each type of cosmeceutical.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.574-587
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• 2008

The purposes of this study were to classify shopper types by high-school girls' purchasing motivations of color cosmetics and to examine the effects of store evaluative criteria and information sources on store patronage behaviors. A questionnaire was developed based on the previous studies and was administrated to 534 high-school girls living in Busan High school girls were pursuing to cover and white their faces by using color cosmetics. The data was analyzed by factor analysis, chi-square test, cluster analysis, ANOVA, Duncantest, and regression analysis using SPSS 12.0. The results showed that they were classified Covering/whitening pursuing groups, Beauty pursuing groups, and Curiosity/conformity pursuing groups by their purchasing motivations of color cosmetics. High school are girls pursuing to cover and white their faces by using color cosmetics, and are were likely to visit low price specialty stores. This is influenced by their experiences and information from their friends or families. Girls using color cosmetics from their curiosity or conformity were likely to shop in low price specialty stores with a good layout and kind salespersons, while they were likely to use general specialty stores when they wanted to exchange and test cosmetics. These findings may provide useful implications for researchers and marketers related to color cosmetics markets of high school girls.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2018

Studies on seaweed-based materials have been progressing steadily day by day. In this experiment, we checked the anti-oxidant, whitening, and moisturizing activities of fermented extract from a mixture of Undariapinnatifida, Saccharina japonica, and Gloiopeltis furcate. Also, Lactobacillus sakei strains of kimchi were used as the lactic acid bacteria. The physiological status of the combined seaweed extracts was also investigated. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging results showed that the inhibitory effects of the combined seaweed extracts were higher than the positive control. Furthermore, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) and Mushroom tyrosinase tests were conducted during the whitening efficacy experiment. Hence, it was confirmed that the whitening activity of fermented extracts was greater than the extracts without fermentation. HPLC analysis of fucose (an active ingredient of seaweed) was also performed and a standard method for solvent conditions was newly established. This study suggests that the composite of algae extract has potentials to be used as anti-oxidant and whitening agents in cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2011

This study was performed to assess the antioxidant activities and whitening effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb on melanin synthesis. The whitening effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extracts were examined by in vitro mushroom tyrosinase assay and B16BL6 melanoma cells. We assessed inhibitory effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract 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 effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activitie. Our results indicated that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract effectively inhibited free radical generation. In DPPH and hydroxy radical scavenging activity, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb water extract had a potent anti-oxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. They significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Also, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb suppressed the expression of tyrosinase in B16BL6 melanoma cells. These results show that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb inhibited melanin production on the melanogenesis. The underlying mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb on whitening activity may be due to the inhibition of tyrosinase activity. We suggest that Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb may be useful as new natural active ingredients for antioxidant and whitening cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2016

This study set its purpose on to specify whether it is possible to use wheat sprout extracts for source of cosmetics, and its biological activity. Cellular experiment was conducted to apprehend toxicity of wheat sprout extracts and through study on the whitening and aging activity of skin cell. As a result, it is appeared that wheat sprout extracts have weak toxicity for HDF, B16F10 cells. Also, it is appeared that wheat sprout extracts have weak deterrent effect on melanin biosynthesis, but since the extracts impede expression of MMP-1, which is induced UV ray, the extracts hold down the aging effect by UV rays. Hence the extracts are effective on preventing wrinkles caused by UV ray and aging. Therefore, this study is expected to be utilized usefully, if the wheat sprout extracts are used as source of functional cosmetics from the perspective of preventing skin-aging in the future.