Abstract
Melanin plays an important role in protecting the skin against ultraviolet light and is responsible for skin color. However, overproduction of melanin is related to several skin disorders, such as age spots, freckles, café au lait spots, Becker’s nevus and other hyperpigmentation syndromes. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of kaempferol-7-O-β-d-glucuronide (K7G) and tilianin, isolated from Cryptotaenia japonica, on melanogenesis and their mechanisms of action in murine B16 melanoma cells. The α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin production was significantly inhibited by K7G and tilianin in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of these compounds on the signaling pathway of melanogenesis were examined. K7G and tilianin downregulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and melanocyte-specific enzymes, i.e., tyrosinase and TRP1. These compounds also inhibited the phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element binding protein (CREB) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, these compounds increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but decreased the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in B16 cells. Based on the above results, the anti-melanogenic effects of these compounds are caused by suppression of the MAPK signaling pathway through the down-regulation of α-MSH-induced CREB accumulation. This finding suggests that K7G and tilianin may be good candidates for further research to develop therapeutic agents for hyperpigmentation diseases.
Highlights
Melanocytes are located at the epidermal-dermal junction and produce pigment granules, i.e., eumelanin and pheomelanin, which are responsible for the coloration of skin and hair [1]
To investigate the anti-melanogenic effects of the compounds isolated from C. japonica, alteration of the melanin contents in B16F10 cells by the compounds was measured first
There are many literatures mentioning the comparative study between B16F10 murine melanoma cells and Human melanoma cells [28]
Summary
Melanocytes are located at the epidermal-dermal junction and produce pigment granules, i.e., eumelanin and pheomelanin, which are responsible for the coloration of skin and hair [1]. Age spots, freckles, café au lait spots, Becker’s nevus, macules due to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and lentigos are examples of hyperpigmentation syndromes [2,3,4]. These abnormal changes greatly influence the quality of life. Melanin is synthesized by melanocyte-specific enzymes, such as tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 [1]. TRP-1 forms a complex with the enzyme to induce melanin formation in murine
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