Abstract
In this study, the essential oil from lotus flower extract, including petals and stamens, was assessed with regard to its effects on melanogenesis in human melanocytes. The lotus flower essential oil was shown to stimulate melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The lotus flower essential oil induced the expression of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor M (MITF-M), and tyrosinase-related proten-2 (TRP-2) proteins, but not tyrosinase mRNA. Moreover, it increased the phosphorylation of ERK and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). In order to verify the effective components of the lotus flower oil, its lipid composition was assessed. It was found to be comprised of palmitic acid methyl ester (22.66%), linoleic acid methyl ester (11.16%), palmitoleic acid methyl ester (7.55%) and linolenic acid methyl ester (5.16%). Among these components, palmitic acid methyl ester clearly induced melanogenesis as the result of increased tyrosinase expression, thereby indicating that it may play a role in the regulation of melanin content. Thus, our results indicate that lotus flower oil may prove useful in the development of gray hair prevention agents or tanning reagents.
Highlights
While we are looking for a new material to treat hypopimentation disorder, we choose lotus flower which is little consumed for food and study
Effects of lotus flower essential oil on melanogenesis In order to determine the effects of the lotus flower on melanogenesis, melanocytes were treated for 5 days with four different concentrations of the extracts, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 μg/ml
The melanin content was found to be increased by the lotus flower extracts in a dose-dependent manner (Figure 1A)
Summary
While we are looking for a new material to treat hypopimentation disorder, we choose lotus flower which is little consumed for food and study. Lotus (Nelumbo nuficera) is a perennial aquatic plant with yellow flowers. It is utilized as a dietary staple and for a variety of medical purposes in Eastern Asia, in China; the seeds of the lotus are utilized in the management of a variety of conditions, including tissue inflammation, poisoning, cancer, and leprosy. The stamens of the lotus can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal Chinese tea, and evidence antioxidant effects in kidney homogenates (Jung et al, 2003). Palmitic acid as a predominant component of lotus plumule oil was analyzed (Bi et al, 2006). There have far been no reports addressing the effects of the lotus flower on melanogenesis
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