Inhibitory effect of Gastrodia elata Blume extract on alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in murine B16F10 melanoma

Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Ethyl Acetate Fraction from Sargassum pallidum and Its Anti-Melanogenesis Effect in B16F10 Melanoma Cells and Zebrafish Model

Melanin overproduction causes various skin diseases, such as spots, freckles, and wrinkles, resulting in the requirement of melanin synthesis inhibitors like 1-phenyl-2-thiourea (PTU) and kojic acid, which have been commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, these inhibitors can cause side effects such as skin irritation and allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safe and effective melanin inhibitors from natural resources. The purpose of this study was to investigate a whitening agent from natural substances using B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish model. We investigated the melanogenesis-inhibiting activities of the fractions from Sargassum pallidum extract. The ethyl acetate fraction from S. pallidum extract (SPEF) significantly decreased tyrosinase activity. SPEF also significantly reduced α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-induced intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content in B16F10 cells. Moreover, SPEF inhibited the expression levels of key melanogenic proteins such as tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF by downregulating the phosphorylation levels of CREB and PKA in α-MSH-stimulated melanoma cells. Furthermore, SPEF significantly suppressed melanin synthesis in the zebrafish model with no developmental toxicity. LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified that SPEF was composed of 12 phytochemical compounds, including diterpenes, which were the dominant metabolites. These results altogether show that SPEF effectively suppresses melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and in a zebrafish model, with potential for usage in pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.

Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Polysaccharide Isolated from Undaria pinnatifida Sporophyll Extracts

Undaria pinnatifida is a temperate brown alga known to exert free radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the skin-whitening effects of U. pinnatifida sporophyll extracts (UPEs) in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The crude polysaccharide fraction (UPF) was obtained via ethanol precipitation. Four polysaccharide fractions (UPF1-4) were isolated and purified using ion-exchange column chromatography, and their anti-melanogenic activity was evaluated. UPF3 exhibited the highest anti-melanogenic activity, showing the highest sulfate (39.79%), fucose (143 μg/mg), and galactose (208 μg/mg) contents. UPF3 significantly inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. We also evaluated the melanogenic signaling pathway to determine the mechanism of action of UPF3 in melanongenesis. UPF3 reduced the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase, which play important roles in melanin production. Therefore, UPF3 has high potential for use in skin-whitening functional pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, applications, and quality control of Gastrodia elata Blume: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gastrodia elata Blume (G. elata) has a long historical application in Asian countries and its tubers, seeds, and stalks are capable of being utilized for medicine, food, or health care products.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This study aimed to offer a systematic and up-to-date analysis of the current review of the G. elata research advances in traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, applications, and quality control, as well as a scientific reference for the development and utilization of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, and CNKI were used for the collection of publications on G. elata. The following keywords of G. elata were used truncated with other relevant topic terms, such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, glycosides, neuroprotection, learning and memory improvement effects, cardioprotection, applications, and quality control.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 134 chemical components mainly categorizing as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, glycosides, organic acids, and sterols were reported from this plant. Moreover, preclinical studies indicated that G. elata performs several functions, including neuroprotection, learning and memory improvement effects, cardioprotection, vaso-modulatory effect, anti-depression, anti-cancer, and other effects. Currently, G. elata has been widely applied to clinics and foods. The available literature shows that the quality of G. elata might be affected by factors such as origin, fungus, and harvest time, which will have an impact on the drug efficacy. According to past research, G. elata is a potential medicinal and edible plant with several active components and pharmacological activity that has a high application value in medicine and the food business. Nevertheless, few studies have concentrated on characterization of polysaccharides structure and study of non-medicinal parts, implying that further comprehensive research on its polysaccharides structure and non-medicinal parts is critical for full utilization of resources of G. elata.

Antimelanogenic Effect of Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Plumula Nelumbinis

Plumula Nelumbinis, the green embryo of a lotus seed, is widely consumed in China as a well-known food with medicinal effects. In this study, 14 alkaloids, including 4 new and 10 known alkaloids, were isolated from it, which were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, and were investigated for their antimelanogenic effects in vitro and in vivo. As a result, melanogenesis in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells was reduced significantly by a new compound 4 and known compound 12 at a concentration of 0.5 μg/mL, and the tyrosinase (TYR) activities were inhibited by 78.7 and 82.0% at 4 μg/mL, prior to α-arbutin (41.3%). Additionally, compounds 4 and 12 also exhibited superior antimelanogenic effects compared to α-arbutin on a zebrafish assay model at equivalent concentrations. Mechanistically, our preliminary findings suggested that compounds 4 and 12 exerted antimelanogenesis effect probably by inhibiting key proteins involved in melanin production such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, TYR, TRP-1, and TRP-2. The findings highlight the potential use of Plumula Nelumbinis containing compounds 4 and 12 as functional foods for treating hyperpigmentation.

Safe and Effective Antioxidant: The Biological Mechanism and Potential Pathways of Ergothioneine in the Skin

Ergothioneine, a sulfur-containing micromolecular histidine derivative, has attracted increasing attention from scholars since it was confirmed in the human body. In the human body, ergothioneine is transported and accumulated specifically through OCTN-1, especially in the mitochondria and nucleus, suggesting that it can target damaged cells and tissues as an antioxidant. It shows excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-aging properties, and inhibits melanin production. It is a mega antioxidant that may participate in the antioxidant network system and promote the reducing glutathione regeneration cycle. This review summarizes studies on the antioxidant effects of ergothioneine on various free radicals in vitro to date and systematically introduces its biological activities and potential mechanisms, mostly in dermatology. Additionally, the application of ergothioneine in cosmetics is briefly summarized. Lastly, we propose some problems that require solutions to understand the mechanism of action of ergothioneine. We believe that ergothioneine has good prospects in the food and cosmetics industries, and can thus meet some needs of the health and beauty industry.

Inhibitory activity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Cell Culture Extract on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in alpha-melanocyte stimulating Hormone-Induced B16-F10 melanoma cells

BACKGROUND

Hyperpigmentation, which causes excessive melanin synthesis and accumulation, is an important issue in the cosmetic industry. Since compounds developed against hyperpigmentation often come with side effects such as skin irritation and contact dermatitis, new studies focus on the use of natural agents that have no side effects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, it was found that the effects of soybean cell culture extract (SCE) on alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induced melanogenesis in B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. The cells were incubated with SCE for 48 h after treatment with α‑MSH for 24 h to analysis the melanin content, cellular tyrosinase activity, and gene and protein expression. SCE at 1 mg/mL decreased melanin content and tyrosinase activity by 34% and 24%, respectively, compared to the α-MSH-treated group, which did not decrease cell viability. In addition, SCE (1 mg/mL) downregulated the expression of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) genes 1.5-, 1.5-, 2-, and 2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, SCE inhibited the expression of TYR, TRP1, and TRP2 by decreasing the expression of MITF, as shown in a western blot assay.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that SCE reveals dose-dependent inhibition of melanin synthesis through the suppression of tyrosinase activity as well as molecular levels of TYR, TRP1, TRP2, and MITF in B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. Therefore, SCE has the potential to be an effective and natural skin-whitening agent for application in the cosmetic industry.

The Modulation of Melanogenesis in B16 Cells Upon Treatment with Plant Extracts and Isolated Plant Compounds

Plants are a rich source of secondary metabolites that exhibit numerous desired properties. The compounds may influence the biology of melanocytes, pigment cells that produce melanin, by modulating numerous signaling pathways, including cAMP/PKA, MAPKs and PI3K/AKT. Its downstream target is microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, responsible for the expression of the tyrosinase enzyme, which plays a major role in melanogenesis. Therefore, this literature review aims to provide insights related to melanogenesis modulation mechanisms of plant extracts and isolated plant compounds in B16 cells. Database searches were conducted using online-based library search instruments from 2012 to 2022, such as NCBI-PubMed and Google Scholar. Upregulation or downregulation of signaling pathways by phytochemicals can influence skin hypo- and hyperpigmentation by changing the level of melanin production, which may pose a significant cosmetic issue. Therefore, plant extracts or isolated plant compounds may be used in the therapy of pigmentation disorders.

Characterization of Phenethyl Cinnamamide Compounds from Hemp Seed and Determination of Their Melanogenesis Inhibitory Activity

Hyperpigmentation is induced by the overactivation of tyrosinase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. The defatted extract of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed is known to have inhibitory effects on melanogenesis; however, effective compounds in the extract have not been identified yet. In this study, three phenethyl cinnamamides present in hemp seed extract were prepared by purification and chemical synthesis and were assessed for their inhibitory effect on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. A comparison of the anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activity of hemp seed solvent fractions revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction possessed the greatest potential for suppressing melanogenesis in melanoma cells by decreasing tyrosinase activity. We tentatively identified 26 compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction by comparing spectroscopic data with the literature. Three phenethyl cinnamamides such as N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, N-trans-coumaroyltyramine, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine present abundantly in the ethyl acetate fraction were prepared and their anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activities in melanoma cells were evaluated. We found that N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine inhibited alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanogenesis without cytotoxicity, while N-trans-coumaroyltyramine inhibited melanogenesis with cytotoxicity. IC₅₀ values of N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, N-trans-feruloyltyramine, and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine for inhibition of α-MSH-mediated tyrosinase activation were 0.8, 20.2, and 6.3 μM, respectively. Overall, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine possessed the strongest anti-melanogenesis activity among the three phenethyl cinnamamides evaluated. The inhibitory effect of N-trans-caffeoyltyramine was verified by determining the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in melanoma after treating the cells with synthetic compounds. Thus, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine isolated from hemp seed extract could be useful in cosmetics as a skin-whitening agent.

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. extract as a skin preserving agent: From traditional medicine to scientific validation

OBJECTIVE

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. is a succulent perennial plant native to South Africa and grows invasively in the Mediterranean basin. It is commonly used for the treatment of various diseases, including skin wound healing and regeneration, for which experimental validation is lacking. We therefore evaluated the skin healing properties by testing a C. edulis aqueous leaf extract (CAE) on cell cultures and in enzymatic assays.

METHODS

Micro-morphological analysis of leaves was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Phytochemical features and antioxidant activity of CAE were evaluated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry (RP-LC-DAD-ESI-MS), and in vitro cell-free assays. Biological activities were evaluated using keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase.

RESULTS

CAE showed high carbohydrates (28.59% ± 0.68%), total phenols ([101.9 ± 6.0] g gallic acid equivalents/kg dry extract [DE]), and flavonoids ([545.9 ± 26.0] g rutin equivalents/kg DE). RP-LC-DAD-ESI-MS revealed the predominant presence of hydroxycinnamic acids (51.96%), followed by tannins (14.82%) and flavonols (11.32%). The extract was not cytotoxic, had a strong and dose-dependent antioxidant activity, and inhibited collagenase (> 90% at 500 µg/mL) and hyaluronidase (100% at 1000 µg/mL). In cell culture experiments, CAE increased wound closure and collagen production, which was consistent with its high polyphenol content.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the use of the C. edulis for skin care and the treatment of skin problems. Moreover, use of C. edulis for skin care purposes could be an eco-friendly solution to reduce its invasiveness in the environment.

Schisandrin B inhibits α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells via downregulation of MAPK and CREB signaling pathways

Schisandrin B (Sch B), a lignan compound in Schisandra, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiobesity activities. The effect of Sch B on melanogenesis and molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the antimelanogenic effects of Sch B on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced B16F10 cells and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that Sch B significantly suppressed melanin content and mushroom tyrosinase (TYR) activity. Sch B treatment decreased the expression of TYR, melanocyte-inducing transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein (TRP) 1, and TRP2. Moreover, Sch B modulated the phosphorylation of p38, extracellular-regulated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), implying that these pathways may be involved in suppressing melanogenesis. Furthermore, we found that Sch B decreased melanogenesis by downregulating MITF and melanogenic enzymes via MAPK and CREB pathways. Overall, these findings indicate that Sch B has the potential use in whitening.

Characterization of Caffeoylquinic Acids from Lepisorus thunbergianus and Their Melanogenesis Inhibitory Activity

Hyperpigmentation resulting from the overactivation of tyrosinase leads to darker spots or patches on the human skin. Although these phenomena are harmless, there is still great demand for melanogenesis inhibitors to prevent hyperpigmentation by inhibiting the tyrosinase, a rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. Although Lepisorus thunbergianus has been used in folk remedies as a diuretic and hemostatic agent, its effect on melanogenesis has not yet been reported. In this study, we prepared an L. thunbergianus extract and its solvent fractions and evaluated their biological activity against free radical and melanin synthesis. The extract of L. thunbergianus inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity more efficiently than, and with similar antioxidant activity to, arbutin in vitro. Comparative evaluation of the anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activity of L. thunbergianus solvent fractions demonstrated that, by inhibiting tyrosinase activity, the butanol fraction has the highest potential for the inhibition of melanogenesis in melanoma cells. We found by structural analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and NMR spectroscopy that the major compounds in butanol fraction were three caffeoylquinic acid derivatives. The three derivatives had similar radical scavenging and anti-tyrosinase activities in vitro, while only 5-caffeoylquinic acid had an inhibitory effect on α-MSH-induced melanogenesis. The inhibitory effect of 5-caffeoylquinic acid was verified by the determination of the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in melanoma after treating the cells with a commercial compound. Further, we revealed that 5-caffeoylquinic acid inhibited melanogenesis by chelating a copper cation from a copper-tyrosinase complex. Thus, 5-caffeoylquinic acid or butanol fraction isolated from L. thunbergianus might be useful in cosmetics as a skin-whitening agent.

Traditional Asian Herbs in Skin Whitening: The Current Development and Limitations

In Asia, the market for whitening cosmetics is expanding rapidly, more and more people prefer to use natural products. Driven by natural product demand and technical advances, herbal research is also developing fast. Lots of studies reported that Asian herbal reagents can reduce melanogenesis, these findings provide evidence for the whitening application of Asian herbs. However, the current development status and challenges of herbal research need attention too. By reviewing these studies, different problems in studying herbal formulas, extracts, and active ingredients were presented. One of the most influential troubles is that the components of herbs are too complex to obtain reliable results. Thus, an understanding of the overall quality of herbal research is necessary. Further, 90 most cited Asian herbal studies on whitening were collected, which were conducted between 2017 and 2020, then statistical analysis was carried out. This work provided a comprehensive understanding of Asian herbal research in skin whitening, including the overall status and quality, as well as the focuses and limitations of these studies. By proactively confronting and analyzing these issues, it is suggested that the focus of herbal medicine research needs to shift from quantity to quality, and the new stage of development should emphasize transformation from research findings to whitening products.

Inhibitory Effect of Cuphea aequipetala Extracts on Murine B16F10 Melanoma In Vitro and In Vivo

Cuphea aequipetala (C. aequipetala) has been used in Mexican traditional medicine since prehispanic times to treat tumors. In this paper, we evaluated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effect of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of C. aequipetala on several cancer cell lines including the B16F10 cell line of murine melanoma and carried a murine model assay. In vitro assay analyzed the effect in the cellular cycle and several indicators of apoptosis, such as the caspase-3 activity, DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine exposure (Annexin-V), and induction of cell membrane permeabilization (propidium iodide) in the B16F10 cells. In vivo, groups of C57BL/6 female mice were subcutaneously injected with 5x10⁵ B16F10 cells and treated with 25 mg/mL of C. aequipetala extracts via oral. Aqueous and methanolic extracts showed a cytotoxic effect in MCF-7, HepG2, and B16F10 cell lines. The methanolic extract showed more antiproliferative effect with less concentration, and for this reason, the in vitro experiments were only continued with it. This extract was able to induce accumulation of cells on G1 phase of the cell cycle; moreover, it was able to induce DNA fragmentation and increase the activity of caspase-3 in B16F10 cells. On the other hand, in the murine model of melanoma, the aqueous extract showed a greater reduction of tumor size in comparison with the methanolic extract, showing an 80% reduction versus one of around 31%, both compared with the untreated control, indicating a better antitumor effect of C. aequipetala aqueous extract via oral administration. In conclusion, the in vitro data showed that both C. aequipetala extracts were able to induce cytotoxicity through the apoptosis pathway in B16F10 cells, and in vivo, the oral administration of aqueous extract reduces the melanoma tumoral mass, suggesting an important antitumoral effect and the perspective to search for effector molecules involved in it.

Tyrosinase inhibition and anti-melanin generation effect of cinnamamide analogues

Abnormal melanogenesis results in excessive production of melanin, leading to pigmentation disorders. As a key and rate-limiting enzyme for melanogenesis, tyrosinase has been considered an important target for developing therapeutic agents of pigment disorders. Despite having an (E)-β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffold, which plays an important role in the potent inhibition of tyrosinase activity, cinnamic acids have not attracted attention as potential tyrosinase inhibitors, due to their low tyrosinase inhibitory activity and relatively high hydrophilicity. Given that cinnamic acids' structure intrinsically features this (E)-scaffold and following our experience that minute changes in the chemical structure can powerfully affect tyrosinase activity, twenty less hydrophilic cinnamamide derivatives were designed as potential tyrosinase inhibitors and synthesised using a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. Four of these cinnmamides (4, 9, 14, and 19) exhibited much stronger mushroom tyrosinase inhibition (over 90% inhibition) at 25 µM compared to kojic acid (20.57% inhibition); crucially, all four have a 2,4-dihydroxy group on the β-phenyl ring of the scaffold. A docking simulation using tyrosinase indicated that the four cinnamamides exceeded the binding affinity of kojic acid, and bound more strongly to the active site of tyrosinase. Based on the strength of their tyrosinase inhibition, these four cinnamamides were further evaluated in B16F10 melanoma cells. All four cinnamamides, without cytotoxicity, exhibited higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity (67.33 - 79.67% inhibition) at 25 μM than kojic acid (38.11% inhibition), with the following increasing inhibitory order: morpholino (9) = cyclopentylamino (14) < cyclohexylamino (19) < N-methylpiperazino (4) cinnamamides. Analysis of tyrosinase activity and melanin content in B16F10 cells showed that the four cinnamamides dose-dependently inhibited both cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content and that their inhibitory activity at 25 μM was much better than that of kojic acid. The results of melanin content analysis well matched those of the cellular tyrosinase activity analysis, indicating that tyrosinase inhibition by the four cinnamamides is a major factor in the reduction of melanin production. These results imply that these four cinnamamides with a 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl group can act as excellent anti-melanogenic agents in the treatment of pigmentation disorders.

Antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis activity of the ethanol extracts of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don for development of the cosmeceutical ingredients

To develop the ingredient with the cosmeceutical function, the antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis effects of the ethanol extract of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don were investigated. DPPH radical scavenging activity was significantly increased with the extract of L. cuneata G. Don. Cell viability on CCD986Sk human fibroblast was also increased by the ethanol extract of L. cuneata G. Don. The inhibitory function of the extract of L. cuneata G. Don on collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase was evaluated. Protein expression level of Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1 was up-regulated in HaCaT human keratinocyte by the extract of L. cuneata G. Don. In addition, the extract of L. cuneata G. Don inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells by decreasing MITF, TRP1, and TRP2 protein levels and increasing the phosphorylated Erk and Akt. Thus, these findings would be useful for developing the new cosmeceutical formulations based on the extract of L. cuneata G. Don.