Inhibitory Effect of Arctigenin from Fructus Arctii Extract on Melanin Synthesis via Repression of Tyrosinase Expression
Open Access
- 1 January 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Vol. 2013, 1-10
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/965312
Abstract
To identify the active compound arctigenin in Fructus Arctii (dried seed of medicinal plantArctium lappa) and to elucidate the inhibitory mechanism in melanogenesis, we analyzed melanin content and tyrosinase activity on B16BL6 murine melanoma and melan-A cell cultures. Water extracts of Fructus Arctii were shown to inhibit tyrosinase activity in vitro and melanin content inα-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated cells to similar levels as the well-known kojic acid and arbutin, respectively. The active compound arctigenin of Fructus Arctii displayed little or no cytotoxicity at all concentrations examined and decreased the relative melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Melanogenic inhibitory activity was also identified in vivo with zebrafish embryo. To determine the mechanism of inhibition, the effects of arctigenin on tyrosinase gene expression and tyrosinase promoter activity were examined. Also in addition, in the signaling cascade, arctigenin dose dependently decreased the cAMP level and promoted the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. This result suggests that arctigenin downregulates cAMP and the tyrosinase enzyme through its gene promoter and subsequently upregulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity by increasing phosphorylation in the melanogenesis signaling pathway, which leads to a lower melanin content.Keywords
Funding Information
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (K12050)
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- Arctigenin Anti‐Tumor Activity in Bladder Cancer T24 Cell Line Through Induction of Cell‐Cycle Arrest and ApoptosisThe Anatomical Record, 2012
- Melanogenesis and Antityrosinase Activity of Selected South African PlantsEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
- Validation of Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl Leaves, a Skin Care Herb from East Kalimantan, Using a Melanin Biosynthesis AssayJournal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 2012
- Topical Hypopigmenting Agents for Pigmentary Disorders and Their Mechanisms of ActionAnnals of Dermatology, 2012
- Botanicals as medicinal food and their effects on drug metabolizing enzymesFood and Chemical Toxicology, 2011
- Acteoside inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 cells through ERK activation and tyrosinase down-regulationJournal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2011
- The melanogenesis and mechanisms of skin‐lightening agents – existing and new approachesInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
- Regulation of eumelanin/pheomelanin synthesis and visible pigmentation in melanocytes by ligands of the melanocortin 1 receptorPigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2008
- Regulation of melanogenesis – controversies and new conceptsExperimental Dermatology, 2008
- Methodology for Evaluation of Melanin Content and Production of Pigment Cells in Vitro†Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2007