Effective Components of - in the Treatment of Melasma and Its Experimental Study.

PURPOSE

The main purpose of this study was to predict and verify the active ingredients of - in melasma based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

• was investigated by network pharmacology, GEO database analysis, and molecular docking techniques to screen its active ingredients. The active components of - were further validated by an in vitro α-melanin-induced B16F10 melanoma cell model and an in vivo UV irradiation combined with a progesterone injection-induced melasma rat model.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking showed that salvianolic acid B might be the key active ingredient. In vitro cellular experiments revealed that salvianolic acid B inhibits tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells at concentrations of 60-90 nmol/mL. In vivo animal experiments found that TYR, MDA, and TNF-α were decreased in the skin and serum of rats in the group of the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of salvianolic acid B, and the expression of GSH-Px and SOD was increased. The high-dose groups of salvianolic acid B showed the best therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSION

In this study, experiments collectively show that salvianolic acid B in - slows down the process of melasma by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in the organism, increasing the antioxidant capacity of the skin, decreasing the activity of tyrosinase, and providing anti-inflammation. This highlights the successful application of network pharmacology and provides a scientific basis for the clinical citation of - in treating melasma.