Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Aceriphyllum rossii Leaf Ethanol Extract on Melanocytes

Abstract

We evaluated the skin whitening effects of Aceriphyllum rossii leaf ethanol extract (ARLEE) in vitro using melan-a cells. The maximum permissible level for ARLEE application to melan-a cells was 50 μg/mL. In gross observation, ARLEE reduced melanin deposition and melanocyte dendricity in a dose-dependent manner. When compared to treatment with vehicle, ARLEE treatment (50 μg/mL) significantly decreased melanin contents by 33.0% (p<0.001), an even greater decrease than arbutin (positive control) treatment (27.2%). ARLEE treatment (50 μg/mL) significantly decreased intracellular tyrosinase activity by 48.8% (p<0.001), an even greater decrease than seen after arbutin treatment (36.0%). ARLEE treatment (50 μg/mL) significantly decreased tyrosinase protein and mRNA expression by 30.5% and 37.7% (p<0.01), respectively. These results suggest that ARLEE has better skin whitening activity than arbutin in melan-a cells, and this activity is likely mediated at the level of tyrosinase transcription. These results suggest that ARLEE could be used in functional cosmetic materials to prevent or alleviate skin pigmentation.