Anti-pigmentation Effects Research Articles

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Loaded Rhamnolipid Based Solid Lipid Nanoparticle as Skin Lightener Formulation: A Green Production Beside In Vitro/In Vivo Safety Index Evaluation.

In the current investigation, an ultrasonic approach was performed to produce menadione sodium bisulfite-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (MSB-SLNs) with rhamnolipid as bio-surfactant, which aimed to increase the dermal delivery and anti-pigmentation effect. To achieve optimum delivery for MSB, the impact of the ratio of two surfactants (rhamnolipid: Tween) on nanoparticle attributes and the respective functions were evaluated. In vitro diffusion process, in vitro cytotoxicity assay, determination of melanin content of melanoma cells, L-DOPA auto-oxidation inhibitory test, and skin irritation studies carried out to investigate the suitability of MSB formulation in dermal application. The optimized nanoparticles showed an average particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), and drug entrapment efficiency of 117.26±1.12 nm, -6.28±0.33 mV, 0.262±0.002, 83.34±0.75% respectively in hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of 12. The in vitro diffusion process demonstrated that MSB-SLN gel had a prolonged release pattern. The levels of MSB in the cutaneous layers (52.192±2.730% or 961.59±50.313 μg/cm2 ) and the receiver compartment (23.721±1.803 % or 437.049± 33.236 μg/cm2 ) for the MSB-SLN gel was higher than MSB simple and showed no cutaneous irritancy and toxicity in rats. MSB-SLN inhibited melanin formation and was remarkably higher than free MSB. MSB-SLN inhibited L-3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) auto-oxidation to a greater extent (95.14±1.46%) than MSB solution (72.28±0.83%). This study's observations revealed that the produced MSB-SLN might be used as a potential nano-vehicle for MSB dermal administration, thereby opening up innovative options for the management of hyper-melanogenesis problems.

Evaluation of Teneligliptin and Retagliptin on the Clearance of Melanosome by Melanophagy in B16F1 Cells

A specialized membrane-bound organelle, named the melanosome, is central to the storage and transport of melanin as well as melanin synthesis in melanocytes. Although previous studies have linked melanosomal degradation to autophagy, the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Autophagy, a complex catabolic process involving autophagosomes and lysosomes, plays a vital role in cellular constituent degradation. In this study, the role of autophagy in melanosomal degradation was explored, employing a cell-based screening system designed to unveil key pathway regulators. We identified specific dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, such as teneligliptin hydrobromide and retagliptin phosphate, as novel agents inducing melanophagy through a comprehensive screening of a ubiquitination-related chemical library. We found that treatment with teneligliptin hydrobromide or retagliptin phosphate not only diminishes melanin content elevated by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) but also triggers autophagy activation within B16F1 cells. In addition, the targeted inhibition of unc-51-like kinase (ULK1) significantly attenuated both the anti-pigmentation effects and autophagy induced by teneligliptin hydrobromide and retagliptin phosphate in α-MSH-treated cells. Collectively, our data demonstrate a new frontier in understanding melanosomal degradation, identifying teneligliptin hydrobromide and retagliptin phosphate as promising inducers of melanophagy via autophagy activation. This study contributes essential insights into cellular degradation mechanisms and offers potential therapeutic avenues in the regulation of pigmentation.

In vitro and in vivo anti-pigmentation effects of 2-mercaptobenzimidazoles as nanomolar tyrosinase inhibitors on mammalian cells and zebrafish embryos: Preparation of pigment-free zebrafish embryos

Recently, 10 2-mercaptobenzo[d]imidazole (2-MBI) compounds (1–10) were synthesized. Although all 2-MBI compounds are tyrosinase inhibitors that inhibit mushroom tyrosinase at extremely low concentrations (IC50 values: 20–740 nM) and effectively inhibit the browning of apples, to our knowledge, no studies have determined whether 2-MBI compounds inhibit mammalian tyrosinase. Mammalian tyrosinase is different from mushroom tyrosinase in its distribution within the cell and has structural characteristics that are different from mushroom tyrosinase in amino acid sequence and in the presence of a quaternary structure. Thus, the effect of the 10 2-MBI compounds on mammalian tyrosinase activity was investigated in B16F10 cells. Six compounds (1–6) exhibited stronger intracellular tyrosinase inhibition than that of kojic acid and phenylthiourea (PTU), which are known to be the most potent tyrosinase inhibitors; their strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity robustly inhibited intracellular melanin production in B16F10 cells. None of the tested 2-MBI compounds exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity in HaCaT and B16F10 cells. To confirm the anti-melanogenic efficacy of the 2-MBI compounds in vivo, a zebrafish embryo model was used. At concentrations 100 times lower than kojic acid, most 2-MBI compounds demonstrated much stronger depigmentation efficacy than that of kojic acid, and three 2-MBI compounds (2–4) showed depigmentation activity similar to or more potent than that of PTU, resulting in nearly pigment-free zebrafish embryos. These results suggest that 2-MBI compounds may be potential therapeutic agents for hyperpigmentation-related disorders.

Development of kojic acid loaded collagen-chitosan nanoparticle as skin lightener product: in vitro and in vivo assessment

In the present study, an ionic gelation and ultrasonic approach was performed to produce kojic acid (KA) loaded chitosan(CS)/collagen(CN) nanoparticle(NP) (CSCN-NP) which aimed to increase the dermal delivery and anti-pigmentation effect. To optimize the CSCN-NP the effect of the amount of CN was investigated. The results showed that increasing CN from 0 to 500 mg increased the mean particle size and entrapment efficiency of KA-CSCN-NP from 266.07 ± 9.30 nm to 404.23 ± 9.44 nm and 17.37 ± 2.06% to 82.34 ± 2.16%, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the amorphous form of KA in CSCN-NP, while scanning electron microscopy revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical. There was no chemical interaction between KA and the other components base on attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The skin permeability test showed that KA-CSCN-NP gel delivered more KA to the dermal layers (29.16 ± 1.67% or 537.26 ± 537.26 μg/cm2) and receiver compartment (15.04 ± 1.47% or 277.15 ± 27.22 μg/cm2) compared to KA plain gel. In vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the improved KA-CSCN-NP was non-toxic. Dermal irritating test on Wistar rats showed that the KA gel was non-irritating. Furthermore, KA-CSCN-NP was found to inhibit melanin formation to a greater extent than free KA and significantly inhibited L-dopa auto-oxidation (94.80 ± 2.41%) compared to pure kojic acid solution (75.28 ± 3.22%). The observations of this study revealed that the produced KA-CSCN-NP might be used as a potential nano-vehicle for KA dermal administration, thereby opening up innovative options for the management of hyper-melanogenesis problems.

Raspberry ketone glucoside suppresses melanin synthesis through IL6/JAK1/STAT3 signal pathway.

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-melanogenic activity of raspberry ketone glucoside (RKG) and further explore the specific molecular mechanisms by which RKG affects melanogenesis. The B16F10 cells model, the mushroom tyrosinase model and the zebrafish model were used to assess the whitening activity of RKG. We subsequently identified possible pathways related to RKG inhibition of melanogenesis by RNA-seq analysis and qRT-PCR on the zebrafish model, and further explored the effects of key genes on the pathway on the melanogenic effect of RKG by using related pathway inhibitors and Tg [mpeg: EGFP] transgenic zebrafish line. RKG could noticeably inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells in vitro and on zebrafish in vivo. The RNA-Seq analysis and the qRT-PCR in zebrafish embryos indicated that the inhibition of melanogenesis by RKG could be achieved by activating JAK1/STAT3 signal pathway and inhibiting the expression levels of the MITFa, TYR, TYRP1a genes directly associated with melanogenesis. The inhibitor tests revealed that the inhibitory effect of the RKG on melanogenesis was restored by the IL6, JAK1/2, and STAT3 inhibitors, specifically STAT3 inhibitor. We further examine the relationship between the JAK1/STAT3 signal pathway and the MITFa. The achieved results indicate that the RKG could activate the zebrafish macrophages via the JAK1, but the inhibition of macrophage activation by loganin did not affect the anti-pigmentation effect of the RKG. RKG showed remarkable whitening activity on both B16F10 cells in vitro and zebrafish model in vivo. Furthermore, RKG could inhibit melanogenesis by activating the IL6/JAK1/STAT3 pathway, inhibiting the transcriptional activity of MITFa, and its downstream expression levels of the TYR and TYRP1a genes.

The anti-melanogenic properties of Swietenia macrophylla king

Fair flawless skin is the goal for some cultures and the development of irregular skin pigmentation is considered an indication of premature skin aging. Hence, there is a rising demand for skin whitening cosmetics. Thus, this research will be focusing on discovering the anti-pigmentation properties of Swietenia macrophylla seeds. Firstly, the seeds were extracted with ethanol and further fractionate based on their polarity before testing them on zebrafish embryos. The ethanolic extract of the seed demonstrated significant inhibition of both tyrosinase activity and melanin production in the embryos. However, after fractionation, the anti-melanogenic ability was observed to have decreased, signifying that the phytocompounds may be synergistic in nature. Still in the proteomic studies the ethanolic extract and its hexane fraction both induced the downregulation of cathepsin LB and cytoskeletal proteins that have connections to the melanogenic pathway, confirming that S. macrophylla seeds do indeed have anti-pigmentation properties that can be exploited for cosmetic use. Next, limonoids (tetranortriterpenoids found in the seed) were tested for their inhibitory effect against human tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP-1) via molecular docking. It was found that limonoids have a stronger binding affinity to TYRP-1 than kojic acid, suggesting that these phytocompounds may have the potential in inhibiting pigmentation. However, this still needs further confirmation before these phytocompounds can be developed into a skin whitening agent. Other assays like ex-vivo or 3D human skin culture can also be used to better study the seeds anti-pigmentation effect on humans.

Nodakenin Inhibits Melanogenesis Via the ERK/MSK1 Signaling Pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential inhibitory effects of nodakenin, a coumarin glucoside derivative from the root extract of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN), on melanogenesis and its underlying mechanisms in B16F10 melanoma cells. The inhibitory effects of nodakenin on melanogenesis were evaluated by determining melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in α -melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-treated B16F10 melanoma cells. The mechanisms associated with the anti-pigmentation effect of nodakenin were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting analysis. Using the UVB-irradiated conditioned media culture system and UVB-irradiated co-cultivation system of HaCaT keratinocytes and B16F10 melanoma cells mimicking in vivo melanin biosynthesis, the effect of nodakenin on melanin production was evaluated. Melanin content analysis showed that nodakenin decreased cellular melanin biosynthesis in α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. Immunoblotting revealed that CREB phosphorylation, MITF, a mastering transcription factor of melanogenesis and its downstream genes tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and tyrosinase-related protein 2 were downregulated by nodakenin in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, nodakenin did not affect the phosphorylation of PKA and p38 MAPK but the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and MSK1. In addition, the inhibition of melanin accumulation by nodakenin in the UVB-irradiated conditioned media culture system and UVB-irradiated co-cultivation system of HaCaT and B16F10 cells suggests that nodakenin has potential as an anti-pigmentation activity. These data suggest that nodakenin inhibits the melanogenesis in B16F10 cells by interfering the ERK/ MSK1/CREB axis and thus preventing MITF expression.

In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Analyses of Molecular Anti-Pigmentation Mechanisms of Selected Thai Rejuvenating Remedy and Bioactive Metabolites.

Thai rejuvenating remedies are mixed herbal formulas promoting longevity. Due to the complexity, the biological activities of these remedies are minimal. Therefore, in this study, the authors evaluated the anti-pigmentation effect at the molecular level of the selected Thai rejuvenating remedy to fulfill the knowledge gap. First, the authors found that the selected remedy showed promising activity against the tyrosinase enzyme with an IC50 value of 9.41 µg/mL. In the comparison, kojic acid (positive control) exhibited an IC50 value of 3.92 µg/mL against the same enzyme. Later, the authors identified glabridin as a bioactive molecule against tyrosinase with an IC50 value of 0.08 µg/mL. However, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate was the most abundant metabolite found in the remedy. The authors also found that the selected remedy and glabridin reduced the melanin content in the cell-based assay (B16F1) but not in the zebrafish larvae experiment. Finally, the authors conducted a computational investigation through molecular docking proposing a theoretical molecular interplay between glabridin, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, and target proteins (tyrosinase and melanocortin-1 receptor, MC1R). Hence, in this study, the authors reported the molecular anti-pigmentation mechanism of the selected Thai rejuvenating remedy for the first time by combining the results from in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments.

Effect of Chicken Egg White-Derived Peptide and Hydrolysates on Abnormal Skin Pigmentation during Wound Recovery

Abnormal skin pigmentation commonly occurs during the wound healing process due to the overproduction of melanin. Chicken egg white (CEW) has long been used to improve skin health. Previous published works had found CEW proteins house bioactive peptides that inhibit tyrosinase, the key enzyme of melanogenesis. The current study aimed to evaluate the anti-pigmentation potential and mechanism of the CEW-derived peptide (GYSLGNWVCAAK) and hydrolysates (CEWHmono and CEWHdi), using a cell-based model. All of these peptide and hydrolysates inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin level up to 45.39 ± 1.31 and 70.01 ± 1.00%, respectively. GYSLGNWVCAAK and CEWHdi reduced intracellular cAMP levels by 13.38 ± 3.65 and 14.55 ± 2.82%, respectively; however, CEWHmono did not affect cAMP level. Moreover, the hydrolysates downregulated the mRNA expression of melanogenesis-related genes, such as Mitf, Tyr, Trp-1 and Trp-2, but GYSLGNWVCAAK only suppressed Tyr gene expression. Downregulation of the genes may lower the catalytic activities and/or affect the structural stability of TYR, TRP-1 and TRP-2; thus, impeding melanogenesis to cause an anti-pigmentation effect in the cell. Outcomes from the current study could serve as the starting point to understand the underlying complex, multifaceted melanogenesis regulatory mechanism at the cellular level.

Valorisation of Kiwifruit Residues and their Application in an Anti-ageing Facial Cream

Portugal has a significant production of kiwifruit, from which around 73.8 tons of leaves and branches are generated every year. The composition of these residues shows interesting properties that could be incorporated into a value-added product. In order to create a new product, the steps proposed by the Chemical Product Design procedure were followed: identifying the needs, brainstorming ideas, selecting the best idea, proposing a manufacturing process. The chosen idea was an anti-ageing facial cream since the kiwifruit leaves and branches present interesting properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-pigmentation effects. In order to obtain this product, a manufacturing plan was designed, and an economic analysis was performed. The proposed circular economy business was found to be profitable and environmentally friendly. This work also includes further innovative steps of the facial cream, such as pigmentation.

Potential anti-ageing effects of probiotic-derived conditioned media on human skin cells.

In this study, the protective functions of bacteria-free conditioned media from Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species against ultraviolet radiation-induced skin ageing and associated cellular damage were investigated. The effects of ultraviolet radiation-induced reactive oxygen species production were suppressed by all conditioned media; particularly, the loss of cell viability and downregulation of collagen gene expression were significantly reversed by the conditioned media from B. longum and B. lactis. Further exa mination of potential anti-pigmentation effects revealed that the B. lactis-derived conditioned media significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanin production in human epidermal melanocytes. Further, the conditioned media suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal- related kinase, which functions as an upstream regulator of melanogenesis. Therefore, B. lactis-derived conditioned media can potentially protect against cellular damage involved in skin-ageing processes.

Anti-melanogenic Effect of Lotus Seed and Seedpod Extracts via Downregulation of Tyrosinase Stability in B16F10 Murine Melanoma Cells

Purpose: This study investigates the anti-melanogenic effects of lotus seed and seedpod extract in B16F10 murine melanoma cells, and demonstrates the possible mechanisms involved in anti-pigmentation.Methods: The lotus seed and seedpod extracts were prepared using 70% ethanol as solvent. The irritation potential of the extracts was investigated using water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1)-based cytotoxicity assay and expression analysis of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL1β in B16F10 cells and HaCaT keratinocytes, respectively. The anti-melanogenic effects of the extracts were analyzed using intracellular melanin contents and tyrosinase activity assays. The effects of the extracts on tyrosinase expression were analyzed at the mRNA and protein levels. The effects of those extracts on the stability of tyrosinase protein were analyzed by evaluating the protein level after cycloheximide treatment.Results: WST-1-based cytotoxicity assay indicated that the concentration of ≤1.0% for lotus seed and seedpod extracts did not exhibit any cytotoxicity in B16F10 cells. Also, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of IL-1β mRNAs was not increased by those concentrations of the extracts in HaCaT keratinocytes. Additionally, intracellular melanin contents assay showed that those extracts significantly inhibited α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis. Furthermore, cellular tyrosinase activity was significantly inhibited by the extracts. Additional investigations revealed that tyrosinase activity reduction was independent of its mRNA expression level, but dependent on its protein expression level. These findings were further confirmed by the results of the cycloheximide experiments stating that the protein stability of tyrosinase was reduced after the treatment with those extracts.Conclusion: Lotus seed and seedpod extracts showed anti-pigmentation effects by accelerating degradation of tyrosinase protein at the post-translation level in B16F10 cells.

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Epidermal Growth Factor-Containing Ointment on the Treatment of Solar Lentigines as Adjuvant Therapy.

Background and Objective: Little is known about the anti-pigmentation effects of whitening agents on solar lentigines. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been used as a booster for wound healing in the skin, and it has been suggested to have anti-pigmentation effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of EGF-containing ointment for treating solar lentigines with a Q-switched (QS) 532 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (Bluecore company, Seoul, Republic of Korea). Materials and Methods: Subjects who underwent QS 532 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment of solar lentigines were randomly assigned to treatment with an EGF ointment or petrolatum. After the laser procedure, the subjects were administered the test ointment twice a day for 4 weeks. The physician’s assessment of the degree of pigment clearance and patient’s satisfaction were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. Additionally, the melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) were evaluated. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04704245). Results: The blinded physician’s assessment using 5-grade percentage improvement scale and patient’s satisfaction were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group at the 4th and 8th weeks. The MI was significantly higher in the control group than in the study group at the 4th and 8th weeks. The EI and TEWL did not differ significantly between the two groups at either time point. The incidence of PIH was higher in the control group (37.5%) than in the EGF group (7.14%) at the 8th week. Conclusions: The application of EGF-containing ointment on facial solar lentigines with a QS 532 nm Nd:YAG laser showed efficient and safe therapeutic effects, with less PIH. Thus, EGF-containing ointment could be suggested as the promising adjuvant treatment strategy with a QS laser for solar lentigines.

Combination and efficiency: preparation of dissolving microneedles array loaded with two active ingredients and its anti-pigmentation effects on guinea pigs

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin disorder caused by excessive melanogenesis and uneven dispersion of melanin in the skin. To combine multiple active agents with an efficient transdermal drug delivery system is an effective strategy to combat UV induced skin pigmentation. In this work, Arbutin (Arb) and Vitamin C (Vc) mixed in 1:1 were found to have the greatest inhibition effects on melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 murine melanoma cells. And hyaluronic acid (HA) based dissolving microneedles array (DMNA) was employed to overcome the skin barriers for improved topical drug delivery, which exhibited the most desirable features, including morphology, mechanical properties, dissolving ability, and the highest drug loading. Furthermore, DMNA could greatly increase the stability of Vc during storage without adding any antioxidant which is an important issue for Vc administration. Pharmacodynamics study showed that DMNA loaded with Arb and Vc could synergistically suppress UVB-induced hyperpigmentation in guinea pig skin. This work provides a promising treatment strategy and solution for skin pigmentation and other skin problems.

Improvement of cosmeceutical properties in rice by-products by solid state fermentation with Aspergillus oryzae and effects of different extracting conditions

Rice milling generates a lot of rice by-products and they are commonly used as an animal feed ingredient. However, they have high cosmeceutical values, attributed to their high content of bioactive compounds. In the present study, rice by-products (broken rice and rice bran) were subjected to solid state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus oryzae at 30° C for 12 days and their cosmeceutical potentials were then evaluated. Different extraction conditions such as the type of solvent (water, 50% ethanol) and extraction temperature (30°C, 40°C) were also optimized using a one-factor-one-time approach. Through tyrosinase inhibition assay, it was observed that SSF has improved the anti-pigmentation effect of broken rice and rice bran 7.4-fold and 11.2-fold in comparison to their unfermented substrate, respectively. SSF has also improved the anti-ageing effect of broken rice and offered 6.6-fold of improvement in fermented rice bran. In extraction optimization studies, a stronger anti-ageing effect was observed in the water extract of both fermented substrates extracted at 40°C while the anti-pigmentation effect is stronger on 50% ethanol extract in fermented rice bran. Most phenolic acids that are commonly related to cosmeceutical purposes were detected in the extracts of both fermented substrates while most of the organic acids were detected in the water extract. Our study suggests that SSF using A. oryzae could improve the cosmeceutical activities of rice byproducts, and both water and 50% ethanol extracts have high potential to be developed as cosmeceutical bio-ingredients.

Whitening effect of novel peptide mixture by regulating melanosome biogenesis, transfer and degradation.

Peptides are short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are widely used as effective and biocompatible active ingredients in cosmetic industry. In this study, we developed novel peptide mixture and identified its anti-pigmentation effect on melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our results revealed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome biogenesis through the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, a key factor of melanogenesis in melanocytes. And we observed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome uptake through the reduction of protease-activated receptor 2, a phagocytosis-related receptor in keratinocytes. Furthermore, peptide mixture activated autophagy system resulting in degradation of transferred melanosomes in keratinocytes. The anti-pigmentation effect of multi-targeting peptide mixture was assessed in a human skin equivalent model (MelanoDerm). Melanin contents in epidermal layer were significantly decreased by topical treatment of peptide mixture, suggesting that it can be applied as a novel cosmetics material having a whitening function.

Skin Brightening Efficacy of Exosomes Derived from Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem/Stromal Cells: A Prospective, Split-Face, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Studies have shown that stem cells and their derivatives, including conditioned media (CM), have inhibitory effects on skin pigmentation. However, evidence supporting the skin brightening effect of exosomes derived from stem cells is lacking. We studied the antipigmentation effect in vitro and skin brightening efficacy in vivo of exosomes derived from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ASC-exosomes). Exosomes were isolated from the CM of ASCs using the tangential flow filtration method. ASC-exosomes reduced intracellular melanin levels in B16F10 melanoma cells regardless of the presence of the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The skin brightening efficacy of a cosmetic formulation containing ASC-exosomes was assessed in human volunteers with hyperpigmentation in a prospective, split-face, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. The ASC-exosome-containing formulation statistically decreased the melanin contents compared to the placebo control. However, the melanin-reduction activity was limited and diminished along with time. A further improvement in efficient transdermal delivery of ASC-exosomes will be helpful for more profound efficacy. In summary, these results suggest that ASC-exosomes can be used as a cosmeceutical for skin brightening.

Comparison of antiaging, anti-melanogenesis effects, and active components of Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.) extracts according to maturity.

In this study, we carried out a comparative evaluation of antiaging and anti-melanogenesis activities of raspberry extracts (Rubus occidentalis L.) according to their stage of ripening (uRo: unripe raspberry, Ro: ripe raspberry), and analyzed the active component (ellagic acid) present in these extracts. Our results showed higher inhibitory effects of the uRo extract in terms of elastase and collagenase activities than Ro extract. In the CCD-986sk cells, uRo extract significantly inhibited MMP-1 activity by 18% and increased the rate of type 1 pro-collagen synthesis by 25%. Besides, treatment with uRo extract significantly inhibited α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Overall, uRo was a more potent mediator of antiaging and anti-melanogenesis effects than Ro extract. Further analysis showed that the functional effects of uRo could be attributed to its 18.5 times higher ellagic acid content than that in Ro extract. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study reported the differential effect of the raspberry extracts depending on their stage of ripening. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to report the antiaging, anti-wrinkle, and anti-pigmentation effects of the uRo extracts. We showed that the extracts from the uRo have an overall better antiaging and skin-whitening effect than ripe ones. The effects were attributed to high ellagic acid content in uRo. We believed that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because the outcome of the study has both, cosmetic as well as therapeutic implications.

Effects of different extracting conditions on anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities of Schizophyllum commune fruit bodies

A current trend in cosmetic and cosmeceutical science is the search for edible ingredients with effective skin-repairing actives. Schizophyllum commune is a cultivated edible mushroom known to contain compounds that possess potent biological properties beneficial to skin health. However, research on the development of locally cultivated S. commune as a cosmeceutical ingredient is lacking. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of extraction conditions on the cosmeceutical properties of S. commune extract. Fruit bodies were extracted using two different temperatures; 4 °C and 30 °C at three different extraction times; 1, 12 and 24 h, using water as extracting solvent. Anti-pigmentation activity measured by a tyrosinase inhibition assay, as well as antioxidant activities, were evaluated. Biological components such as total phenolic, polysaccharide, and glucan content were also assessed. The results revealed that a 1 h extraction time at 4 °C or 30 °C produced extracts with the strongest anti-pigmentation effect, with the value of 94.2 and 95.4% respectively. At 4 °C, shorter extraction time yielded better ferric-reducing and DPPH-radical scavenging antioxidant activities, while results were varied at 30 °C. Based on our results, the optimal conditions for effective cosmeceutical properties in S. commune extract was extraction at 30 °C for 1 h. Further research on optimization of the extraction method and in-vitro efficacy test using cell lines should be commenced to thoroughly explore the potential of these mushroom extracts as cosmeceutical agents.

The Inhibition of Melanogenesis Via the PKA and ERK Signaling Pathways by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Extract in B16F10 Melanoma Cells and Artificial Human Skin Equivalents.

Abnormal melanin synthesis results in several hyperpigmentary disorders such as freckles, melanoderma, age spots, and other related conditions. In this study, we investigated the antimelanogenic effects of an extract from the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CE) and potential mechanisms responsible for its inhibitory effect in B16F10, normal human epidermal melanocyte cells, and human skin-equivalent models. The CE extract showed significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on α-melanocyte-stimulating, hormone-induced melanin synthesis in cells. Additionally, the CE extract exhibited suppressive effects on the mRNA and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2. The CE extract also inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase A and extracellular signal-related kinase, which function as upstream regulators of melanogenesis. Using a three-dimensional, reconstructed pigmented epidermis model, the CE-mediated, anti-pigmentation effects were confirmed by Fontana-Masson staining and melanin content assays. Taken together, CE extract can be used as an anti-pigmentation agent.