Abstract
The efficacy of oily components is often difficult to evaluate due to their incompatibility with most models. Here, we emulsified adlay bran oil (ABO), processed it to a nanoscale, and investigated its anti‐hyperpigmentation efficacy, assessed for its inhibitory effects against tyrosinase activity and melanin production, in an in vitro system (mouse melanoma B16F10 cells) and an in vivo system (zebrafish embryos). ABO induced dose‐dependent reductions in tyrosinase activity and melanin production in both the melanoma cells and zebrafish, without affecting viability. The efficacy of ABO was strongly influenced by emulsion particle size in the zebrafish but not in the cells. These results indicate that ABO has potential as a tyrosinase inhibitor and anti‐hyperpigmentation agent and that the emulsion system is an effective method for delivering the bioactive components of ABO to living systems that could be utilized for other oily components.
Highlights
Light‐absorbing molecules, called melanins, protect skin and hair by shielding photoreceptors, suppressing inflammatory responses, regulating body temperature, and preventing UV damage
This study successfully demonstrated that adlay bran oil (ABO), at levels showing no adverse effects, is a potent inhibitor of tyrosinase activity and intercellular/intracellular melanin production
ABO obtained from a by‐product of cereal refining was emulsified with Tween 80 and applied at various doses to B16F10 cell and zebrafish models
Summary
Light‐absorbing molecules, called melanins, protect skin and hair by shielding photoreceptors, suppressing inflammatory responses, regulating body temperature, and preventing UV damage. Excessive production of two well‐known melanin derivatives, eumelanin, and pheomelanin, can lead to photodegradation and DNA mutations in melanocytes when exposed to UV radiation, which causes an overproduction of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions (Miyamura et al, 2007). These compounds may form hyperpigmented lentigines, which, not a life‐threatening condition, can cause feelings of self‐abasement and increase social anxiety in affected patients. ABO should be able to reduce hyperpigmentation through biological mechanism comparable to the adlay seed extract, as reported in previous works (Huang et al, 2014). Our example might extend to other cereals with hard outer layers, indicating the great potential of nanoemulsions for increasing the economic value of reprocessed grain by‐products, by converting them to substances that could benefit human health
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