Evaluation of Anti-Melanogenesis Activity of Enriched Pueraria lobata Stem Extracts and Characterization of Its Phytochemical Components Using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS.

Dan Gao,Jin Hyeok Kim,Hyung Min Kim,Jong Seong Kang,Won Seok Jeong,Cheong Taek Kim,Jaehoon Sim

doi:10.3390/ijms22158105

Dan Gao, Jin Hyeok Kim + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158105

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Abstract

The root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) is a widely used herbal medicine worldwide, whereas the stem of the plant is discarded or used as feed for livestock. To reuse and exploit the stem of P. lobata as a resource, we investigated its potential as a skin-whitening agent. We found that the developed, enriched P. lobata stem (PLS) extract significantly inhibited melanin production in the 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-induced B16/F10 cells at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. To further confirm the mechanism of the antimelanogenic effect of the enriched PLS extracts, we examined the mRNA expression of tyrosinase, which was suppressed by the extracts. To standardize and implement effective quality control of the enriched PLS extracts, its major chemical constituents were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry. In total, 12 constituents were identified. In silico analysis showed that the main constituents, puerarin and daidzin, had excellent binding affinities for human tyrosinase. Collectively, our results suggest that the PLS extracts could be used as anti-pigmentation agents.

Highlights

In mammals, the production and distribution of melanin determine the color of skin, eyes, and hair, which is generated by melanosomes in melanocytes located on the basal layer between the dermis and epidermis [1]
Melanogenesis is a complicated procedure that is regulated through a variety of signaling pathways, and all signals lead to the upregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression [5,6]
We aimed to investigate the skin-whitening effect of the enriched P. lobata stem (PLS) extracts and to evaluate their effects on IBMX-induced B16/F10 melanoma cells

Summary

Introduction

The production and distribution of melanin determine the color of skin, eyes, and hair, which is generated by melanosomes in melanocytes located on the basal layer between the dermis and epidermis [1]. Melanin plays an important role in protecting the skin from diverse small molecules and stimuli, such as reactive oxygen species, ultraviolet radiation, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents, including forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) [2]. Melanogenesis is a complicated procedure that is regulated through a variety of signaling pathways, and all signals lead to the upregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression [5,6]. Melanogenesis begins when activated MITF promotes the tyrosinase gene family expression. CAMP phosphorylates extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways, leading to the activation of MITF in the melanogenesis process [2,7,8]. Evaluating the effects of specific materials on the downregulation of melanogenesis and expression of the tyrosinase gene family could be used to screen potential compounds or extracts used in producing skin-whitening agents

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