Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Exp Dermatol. 2013 Feb;22(2):131-6. doi: 10.1111/exd.12089.
Melanin performs a crucial role in protecting the skin against harmful ultraviolet light. However, hyperpigmentation may lead to aesthetic problems and disorders such as solar lentigines (SL), melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and even melanoma. Arthrophytum scoparium grows in the desert in the North African region, and given this type of environment, A. scoparium exhibits adaptations for storing water and produces useful bioactive factors. In this study, the effect of A. scoparium ethanol extract (ASEE) on melanogenesis regulation in B16 murine melanoma cells was investigated. Cells treated with 0.017% (w/v) ASEE showed a significant inhibition of melanin biosynthesis in a time-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. To clarify the mechanism behind the ASEE-treated melanogenesis regulation, the expressions of tyrosinase enzyme and melanogenesis-related genes were determined. Results showed that the expression of tyrosinase enzyme was significantly decreased and Tyr, Trp-1, Mitf and Mc1R mRNA expressions were significantly down-regulated. LC-ESI-TOF-MS analysis of the extract identified the presence of six phenolic compounds: coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, chrysoeriol, cyanidin, catechol and caffeoylquinic acid. The melanogenesis inhibitory effect of ASEE may therefore be attributed to its catechol and tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative content. We report here that ASEE can inhibit melanogenesis in a time-dependent manner by decreasing the tyrosinase protein and Tyr, Trp-1, Mitf and Mc1R mRNA expressions. This is the first report on the antimelanogenesis effect of A. scoparium and on its potential as a whitening agent.
黑色素在保护皮肤免受有害紫外线方面起着至关重要的作用。然而，色素沉着过度可能导致美学问题和疾病，如太阳斑（SL）、黄褐斑、炎症后色素沉着过度，甚至黑色素瘤。活石花生长在北非沙漠地区，由于这种环境，活石花表现出了储存水分的适应性，并产生了有用的生物活性因子。在这项研究中，研究了活石花乙醇提取物（ASEE）对 B16 鼠黑色素瘤细胞中黑色素生成调节的影响。用 0.017%（w/v）ASEE 处理的细胞表现出显著的黑色素生物合成抑制作用，且无细胞毒性。为了阐明 ASEE 处理的黑色素生成调节背后的机制，测定了酪氨酸酶酶和黑色素生成相关基因的表达。结果表明，酪氨酸酶酶的表达显著降低，Tyr、Trp-1、Mitf 和 Mc1R mRNA 的表达显著下调。提取物的 LC-ESI-TOF-MS 分析鉴定出六种酚类化合物的存在：香豆酸、肉桂酸、芹黄素、矢车菊素、儿茶酚和咖啡酰奎宁酸。ASEE 的黑色素生成抑制作用可能归因于其儿茶酚和四氢异喹啉衍生物的含量。我们在这里报告 ASEE 可以通过降低酪氨酸酶蛋白和 Tyr、Trp-1、Mitf 和 Mc1R mRNA 的表达来抑制黑色素生成，呈时间依赖性。这是关于活石花的抗黑色素生成作用及其作为增白剂的潜力的首次报道。
