• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2003

During the screening for inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis from plant extract, Angelica polymorpha MAXIM which showed a high level of inhibition was selected. The inhibiting substances were purified form methanol extract of Angelica polymorpha MAXIM followed by silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The inhibitors were identified as heraclenin, isosaxalin and heraclenol 3'-Me ether, by spectrescopic methods of ESI-MS, H-NMR, C-NMR, DEPT, HMQC and HMBC. These compounds did not have mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity, but showed a highly potent melanin biosynthesis inhibition zone in the plate culture of Streptomyces bikiniensis, a bacterium used as an indicator organism in this work. These compounds did not show any growth inhibition against S. bikiniensis at the same concentration of melanin biosynthesis test.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.336-340
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• 2004

In order to search for anti -melanin formation agents from Korean medicinal herbs, we selected 21 Korean medicinal herbs, based on a review of Korean traditional medicine books and the recommendations of Korean traditional medical doctors. We tested for inhibition effect of melanin pigmentation of Clone M-3 mouse melanocyte cell lines when we treated the extracts of 21 medicinal herbs in the mouse melanocyte cell lines, respectively. Among 21 medicinal herb extracts, 5 extracts showed a inhibition effect of melanin formation. The sample Phaseolus radiatus L, Cordyceps militaris, Pinellia ternata, Phellinus linteus and Citrus junos Tanaka showed a significantly little formation of melanin pigments compared with control groups. Especially extract of Citrus junos Tanaka was more potent than the others. These results suggest that extract of Korean Citrus junos may represents an excellent candidate for inhibition of melanin pigmentation at in vitro level.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.51-62
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study is to assess the effect of Schizandrae Fructus on melanin synthesis inhibition and whitening effect. Methods : We assessed inhibitory effects of Schizandrae Fructus on melanin-release from B16F10, on melanin production in B16F10, on mushroom tyrosinase activity in vitro, on tyrosinase activity in B16F10 and effect of Schizandrae Fructus on the expression tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, PKA, ERK-1 ERK-2, AKT-1, MITF in B16F10. Results and Conclusion : 1. Schizandrae Fructus inhibited melanin-release, melanin production in B16F10. 2. Schizandrae Fructus inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16F10. 3. Schizandrae Fructus suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, PKA, ERK-2 in B16F10.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.104-117
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• 2009

Objective : Melanin is one of the most important facor in skin color. Melanin protects human skin from ultraviolet radiation otherwise it causes melanin pigmentation. So this experiment is carried out for test whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi(SBG) inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in mouse B16 melanoma cells. Method : The melanin synthesis inhibition effects of SBG were examined by in vitro melanin production assay. We assessed inhibitory effects of SBG on melanin contents from B16F1 melanoma cell, on tyrosinase activity(cell and cell free system), effect of SBG on the expression tyrosinase, Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor(MITF), Extracellular signal-regulated Kinase(ERK). Result : SBG inhibited melanin synthesis induced $\alpha$-MSH($\alpha$-Melanin Stimulating Hormone) in B16F1. SBG inhibited tyrosinase activity and expression. And SBG down-regulates MITF and stimulated ERK activation in B16F1. Conclusion : According to above results, SBG was improved its suppression effect to the inhibition of melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activation, and tyrosinase promotor activation. So SBG is considered to be used for an strong source of skin whitening effect.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.125-129
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• 2000

A rapid and efficient assay to determine melanin biosynthesis inhibition of Magnaporthe grisea, a causal agent of the rice blast, by chemicals was developed. Wells in 24-well plates were loaded with spore suspension of the fungus and three known melanin biosynthesis inhibitors of KC10017, tricyclazole, and carpropamid. Subsequent color changes of mycelia and culture media in the wells were observed 7 days after incubation. The wells treated with KC10017 (an inhibitor of polyketide synthesis step and/or pentaketide cyclization step) became colorless, whereas tricyclazole (an inhibitor of 1, 3, 8-trihydroxynaphthalene reductase) or carpropamid (an inhibitor of scytalone dehydratase)-treated wells exhibited red color. They did not show any inhibitory effect on fungal growth. The inhibition of reaction steps prior to 1, 3, 6, 8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene formation was easily determined by colorless medium and mycelia. However, it was impossible to distinguish between inhibition of reduction steps and inhibition of dehydration steps by colors of the cultures. It was accomplished through HPLC analysis of the melanin biosynthesis-involving pentaketide metabolites accumulated by the inhibitors. Through screening of a number of synthetic chemicals using the in vitro assay, we could find a novel chemical group of melanin biosynthesis inhibitor.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.398-403
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• 2003

To investigate the relationship between structure and biological activity of phenylpropanoids, we measured effects of phenylpropanoids on anti-oxidant and whitening activity, In DPPH radical scavenging activity, caffeic acid analogues showed the significant anti-oxidant activity. Although phenylpropanoids did not inhibit purified-tyrosinase activity, they significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin production in MSH-stimulated B16 melanoma cells. However, phenylpropanoids did not affect tyrosinase expression in MSH-stimulated B16 melanoma cells, which suggest that inhibition of MSH-induced melanin production was due to tyrosinase inhibition mediated via other signal pathways but not expression of tyrosinase. Phenylpropanoids also significantly inhibited both hyaluronidase and elastase activity, suggesting that phenylpropanoids may be used as whitening, hydration and anti-wrinkling agents. Hydroxyl residue of aromatic ring in phenylpropanoids plays an important role in anti-oxidant and whitening activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.65-72
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• 1998

In this study, we demonstrated the whitening effect of Lagenaria leucantha through the melanin biosynthesis of S bikiniensis and inhibition of melanogenesis in cultured Bl6 melanocytes. And we confirmed the whitening effect of Lagenaria leucantha through the depigmentation of gold fish in vivo. The melanogenesis of B$_{16}$ melanocytes was founded to be activated dose and time dependently by the treatment of u- MSH. When the B$_{16}$ melanocytes was treated with 200nM of $\alpha$-MSH, the morphology of melanocytes was remarkably changed. The melanin content and the synthesis of tyrosinase were strikingly increased. Lagenaria ieucantha inhibited the melanin formation stimulated by $\alpha$-MSH without affection of cell viability. However, Lagenaria leucantha didn't inhibit tyrosinase activity and showed weak suppression on the synthesis of tyrosinase. These results suggest Lagenaria leucantha might inhibit melanin formation with tyrosinase independent manner. Lagenaria ieucantha also inhibition melanin biosynthesis with 18mm inhibition zone in S.bikiniensis. To evaluate the inhibitory activity of melanogenesis of Lagenaria leucantha in vivo, we examined its effect on depigmentation of gold fish. Lagenaria ieucantha remarkably reduced the size and density of melanophores in gold fish. These results suggest that Lagenaria ieucantha can be used as a whitening agent in cosmetics.ics.s.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.151-167
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• 2003

Melanin biosynthesis is a human defense mechanism to protect skin from UV irradiation and also determines colors of hair and skin. However, as a interest on skin-whitening increases, researches to prevent pigmentation and hypersynthesis of melanin in skin are being actively in progress. Active components used as a whitening agent in cosmeceuticals are kojic acid, arbutin, vitamin C and hydroquinone. However, until now, because comparison researches among them in the aspect of both melanin formation and cellular toxicity have not been performed, we can't exactly estimate merits and defects of them as a whitening agent. To this end, we performed experiments to compare their effects on cell viability and melanin formation. As a first step, in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay was done. While kojic acid and hydroquinone showed strong inhibition activities(their IC$\_$50/s are all < 100uM), arbutin and vitamin C showed weak activities. IC$\_$50/s of arbutin and vitamin C are 100uM and 400∼500uM, respectively. In B16BL6 melanoma cells, like in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay, arbutin and kojic acid showed more strong inhibition effect on melanin synthesis than vitamin C. And unlike arbutin, vitamin C and kojic acid induced cell death at high concentration. Although arbutin showed no cytotoxicity, it has side effect to induce morphological change at high concentration.. In this paper, we suggest both kojic acid and arbutin have stronger ability to inhibit melanogenesis than vitamin C. And they also have side effect, that is, kojic acid induces cell death like vitamin C and arbutin changes cell morphology respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.874-879
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• 2008

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, and hyperpigmentation disorders are associated with abnormal accumulation of melanin pigments, which can be reduced by treatment with depigmenting agents. The methanol extract of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya $M_{IQ}$ showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase. The active compound was purified from the methanol extract of L. cyrtobotrya, followed by several chromatographic methods, and identified as dalbergioidin (DBG) by spectroscopic methods. The results showed that DBG exhibited tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an $IC_{50}$ of $20\;{\mu}M$. The kinetic analysis of tyrosinase inhibition revealed that DBG acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor. In addition, DBG showed a melanin biosynthesis inhibition zone in the culture plate of Streptomyces bikiniensis that has commonly been used as an indicator organism. Furthermore, $27\;{\mu}M$ DBG decreased more than 50% of melanin contents on the pigmentation using the immortalized mouse melanocyte, melan-a cell.

• 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.