Anti-Melanogenesis, Antioxidant and Anti-Tyrosinase Activities of Scabiosa columbaria L.

Wilfred Otang-Mbeng,Idowu Jonas Sagbo

doi:10.3390/pr8020236

Abstract

Scabiosa columbaria is a plant traditionally used to treat skin ailments, such as scabies, wound bruises, sores and hyperpigmentation. To find a novel skin depigmenting agent, the present study was investigated to determine the possible anti-melanogenesis, antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase effects of methanol extract of S. columbaria leaves. Cytotoxicity towards human dermal fibroblast (MRHF) cells was assessed using the live-cell fluorescence imaging microscopy. The inhibitory effects of the extract on tyrosinase, collagenase and melanin synthesis were also investigated using standard in vitro method, while ferric reducing power (FRAP) was used to determine the antioxidant potential of the plant extract. The effect of the extract on collagen content in MRHF cells was also investigated. The plant extract displayed no meaningful cytotoxicity towards MRHF cells and no significant cell death was recorded at all the tested concentrations. The extract (25–100 µg/mL) effectively decreased melanin content in B16F10 (mouse melanoma) cells with moderate inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner. However, the extract also demonstrated no significant effect on collagenase and collagen content in MRHF cells, but showed strong antioxidant activity at the concentrations tested. The results suggest that S. columbaria could be a promising candidate in the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation disorders

Highlights

Skin hyperpigmentation is one of the common skin complaints that affect people of all skin types.It is described as increased production and dispersion of melanin, the pigment that gives human skin its color [1,2]
We investigated the possible antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase effects of methanol extract of S. columbaria leaves
This inhibition of tyrosinase could be due to the extract competing against the melanin substrate, such as L-DOPA, for the same active site of the enzyme or affects the chelating activity of copper at the active site of the enzyme, which in turn preventing the binding of copper ions to oxygen, thereby leading to the irreversible deactivation of tyrosinase enzyme [14,15]

Summary

Introduction

Skin hyperpigmentation is one of the common skin complaints that affect people of all skin types It is described as increased production and dispersion of melanin, the pigment that gives human skin its color [1,2]. Some types of hyperpigmentation, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, age spots, solar lentigo and melisma occur in many human populations and are considered to be skin diseases [3]. Many depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid and corticosteroids have been used to treat hyperpigmentation disorders [4]. It is imperative to explore novel natural sources to combat the problem of skin hyperpigmentation

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion