• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Objectives: In order to investigate the relationship of Radix Trichosanthis components and the melanin synthesis, the author has analyzed the cell viability and tyrosinase activity, melanin content and morphologic changes in n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O fraction. Methods: At first, in order to determine the concentration of the Radix Trichosanthis component, the author investigated the viability of B16 melanoma cell. To measure the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii extracts (n-BuOH, n-Hexane, EtOAc, H2O fractions) on the viability of A549 cells, A549 cells were treated with various concentrations (from 0.5 to $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) of components of Trichosanthes kirilowii. After 24hrs, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The EtOAc components of Trichosanthes kirilowii decreased the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. H2O and n-BuOH components had no cell toxicity till $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, the n-hexane component showed minor cell toxicity at $25{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ and the EtOAc component cell toxicity was revealed at $5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ concentration. Results: 1. The results of tyrosinase activity and the Radix Trichosanthis component; n-hexane and EtOAc components controlled it effectively; the n-BuOH components were less effective. 2. The results of melanin content analysis showed that the n-hexane and EtOAc components effectively inhibited, the n-BuOH fraction inhibited less, and H2O component didn't inhibit the terminal melanin formation. 3. In the n-BuOH and H2O component there were no changes, but in the n-hexane component the melanin content was effectively inhibited. 4. In the EtOAc fraction, although the melanin content was inhibited, the cell count was evidently suppressed, Of all of the Radix Trichosanthis components, the n-Hexane and EtOAc fractions inhibited the melanin synthesis best, but owing to its toxicity, the EtOAc components inhibited the cell count. Conclusion: The above results demonstrated that Radix Trichosanthis n-hexane fraction efficiently inhibited the tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2011

We investigated antioxidative activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and melanin production inhibitory activity of the methanol extract of Paeoniae Radix and its fractions. The total polyphenol content of the extract was 73.45 mg/g, and content of the ethyl acetate fraction was 514.50 mg/g as the highest content of fractions. In DPPH radical scavenging ability, $SC_{50}$ values of the ethyl acetate was 3.86 ${\mu}g/ml$ as a result of greater activity in the positive control (ascorbic acid). Moreover, tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate fraction showed higher activity than arbutin used as a positive control. In the cytotoxicity measurement by MTT assay, the extract and fractions were exhibited cell viabilities of 76.96~157.26% against Raw 264.7 and B16F10 cell in concentration of 10~100 ${\mu}g/ml$. In nontoxic concentration range, the ethyl acetate fraction showed strong melanin production inhibitory effect in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cell. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract from Paeoniae Radix could be applicable to functional materials for skin-whitening agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.3 s.52
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• pp.279-283
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• 2005

The content of lipid or moisture and index of erythema or melanin on each facial part of 170 urban middle-aged women without dermic disease was measured by non-invasive method. This measurement intended to understand the skin condition on each facial part of middle-aged women, and to determine the correlation between objective measured values and subjective symptom of lipid content/moisture content. The results was summarized as follows. At each facial Part, the order of moisture content was eye rims, forehead, and cheek and that of lipid content was forehead, eye rims, and cheek. The erythema index was in the order oi forehead, cheek and eye rims and melanin index, in the order of eye rims, forehead and cheek. It turned out that the middle-aged women generally lacked lipid content rather than moisture one. The objective measured values of lipid content coincided with subjective symptom of lipid type. The lipid content, erythema index and melanin index showed correlation significantly.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.206-214
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• 2013

The crocetin derivatives, crocin (1), gentiobiosyl glucosyl crocetin (3), and mono-gentiobiosyl crocetin (4) were isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides (Gj) and crocetin (2) from the processed fruit of Gj (PGj) by column chromatography. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR (1D and 2D). These compounds were evaluated for their inhibition activity on melanin production in ${\alpha}$-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) activated B16F10 cells. Compounds 1 - 4 reduced melanin content in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 20 - 60 uM. They also suppressed tyrosinase protein and m-RNA expressions dose dependently, assayed by western blot analysis, and RT-PCR experiment in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.258-262
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• 2013

Three ergosterol derivatives, ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (1), ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3-ol (2), and 5,8-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3-ol(3) were isolated from the fruit body of Phellinus pini. Their structures were based on spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR (1D and 2D). These compounds were evaluated for their activity to decrease melanin production in ${\alpha}$-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) activated B16F10 cells. Compound 1, 2, and 3 reduced melanin content in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 5~15 uM. They also suppressed the tyrosinase expression of protein and m-RNA level dose dependently by western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiment in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.100-111
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• 2003

Recently many efforts were focused to understand the mechanical insights of melanogenesis to develop the agents for hyper-pigmentation and hypo-pigmentation. In the melanin biosynthetic pathway, tyrosinase is the rate limiting enzyme, and ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone(MSH) or cAMP-elevating agents stimulate melanogenesis and enhance the melanin synthesis and the tyrosinase activity. The author has analyzed the effects of Rhizoma Bletillae on the basal melanogenic activities of B16 mouse melanoma cells. Rhizoma Bletillae alone markedly suppressed melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the cells with Rhizoma Bletillae. The decrease in the tyrosinase activity was paralled by a decrease in the abundance of tyrosinase protein and tyrosinase promoter activity. These results suggest that Rhizoma Bletillae inhibits melanogenesis of B16 melanoma cells via suppression of tyrosinase activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.130-136
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• 2002

Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. The heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan L.(C. sappan) has long been commonly used in Oriental folk medicines to promote blood circulation, and as an emmenagogue, analgesic or anti-inflammatory agent as well as a remedy for thrombosis. From the heartwood, many constituents have been purified and among them, brazilin and hematoxylin are two of the most abundant. This present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of butanol extract from C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. After 48 h treatment of these cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, of melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. The melanin content and tyrosinase activity were deσeased in extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. The butanol extract also resulted in a decrease of melanin content in ${\alpha}-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone (MSH)-induced melanogenesis, indicating that butanol extract of C. sappan could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.724-729
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• 2001

Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulted in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which has a role in protecting skin front the damaging effect of ultra-violet (UV) radiation. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica(UL) on Melanogenesis. Cells were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica for 48 h, and there were estimated total melanin contents as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in Melanogenesis. Among the four solvent extracts tested, EtOAc extract mostly increased tyrosinase activity, And EtOAc extract increased the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Especially It was observed that 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml EtOAc extract promotes melanin secretion in B16/F10 melanoma cells by 140% at 48 h treatment and activity of tyrosinase increased by 180% in the presence of same concentration. In conclusion, as for EtOAc extract treatment, there was no effect on the viability of B16/F10 cell, only to stimulate Melanogenesis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of major constituents of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Icariin, epimedium A, epimedium B, and epimedium C) on melanin synthesis. Methods : We measured melanin contents, tyrosinase activity, and expression of Rab27a in B16F10 cells cultured with Epimedium koreanum Nakai ethanol extract (EKN) and their major constituents. After treatment with H89 and dibutyryl cAMP, which inhibit or promote the activation of PKA, we observed changes in melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity stimulated by EKN. Results : Among them, EKN and icariin enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin contents. We confirmed that EKN augmented melanin synthesis via cAMP/PKA pathway. Icariin-induced tyrosinase activity and melanin content were attenuated by PKA inhibitor H89, while melanogenic effect of icariin was further augmented by cAMP analog, dbc AMP. However, icariin did not affect the expression of small GTPase Rab27a involved in melanosome transport. Conclusions : These results suggest that icariin promotes melanogenesis through cAMP/PKA pathway but does not affect small GTPase Rab27a.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.667-672
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• 2006

Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthetic pathway of melanin pigments participating in the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes, and is widely distributed in nature. The inhibitory compounds of tyrosinase have been extensively used as a cosmetic agent with a skin-whitening effect. In this paper, several plant extracts were screened using Melan-a cells for the melanin biosynthesis inhibition activity, and Idesia polycarpa was selected. A melanin biosynthesis inhibitor was isolated from I. polycarpa fruits by activity-guided fractionation, and the inhibitor was identified as 6-hydroxy-2-[[[(1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-cyclohexenl-yl)carbonyl]oxy]methyl]phenyl$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (idescrapin) by comparing it with reported spectral data. Idescarpin $(IC_{50}=8{\mu}g/ml)$ reduced melanin content compared with the vehicle. In addition, the inhibitory activity of idescarpin for melanin synthesis is mediated by decreasing tyrosinase protein rather than directly inhibiting the tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that idescarpin isolated from I. polycarpa fruits may be used as a skin-whitening agent.