Inhibitory Effect on Melanin Synthesis of Radix Codonopsis Lanceolatae

더덕 추출물의 멜라닌 생성 억제 효과

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Codonopsis lanceolatae on the melanogenesis of HM3KO human melanoma cells biologically. The cells were treated for 3 days and 5 days with Codonopsis lanceolatae at several concentrations. The effects on tyrosinase activity and melanin contents were examined. And DOPAchrome tautomerase(TRP-2) activity was also examined to search a pathway influencing this inhibitory effect. 1. It was examined mushroom tyrosinase activity was significantly inhibited by Codonopsis lanceolatae. 2. Treatment with Codonopsis lanceolatae did not affect cell viability at the highest concentration, 1 ㎎／ml, and suppressed melanin contents as a time and dose dependent manner. 3. It was investigated treatment with Codonopsis lanceolatae inhibited tyrosinase, a key enzyme forming melanin, activity in a dose-dependent manner. 4. Treatment with Codonopsis lanceolatae did not affect DOPAchrome tautomerase(TRP-2) activity. 5. There was not a morphological change by Codonopsis lanceolatae microscopically. These results suggest that Codonopsis lanceolatae is a candidate for an efficient whitening agent which supresses melanogenesis by a Raper-Mason pathway.