title: A human placental extract: in vivo and in vitro assessments of its melanocyte growth and pigment-inducing activities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authenticity of various prototype human placental extracts with biological activity, such as that inducing vitiligo repigmentation, is under serious criticism, mainly due to a lack of demonstration at the cellular level. Considering the present worldwide scenario with regard to the occurrence and treatment of vitiligo, a thorough scientific exploration of such extracts should be undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  One such prototype placental preparation was prepared, and was evaluated with regard to its melanogenic action in C57BL/6J mice in vivo and its mitogenic and melanogenic activity on B16F10 mouse melanoma cells and normal human melanocytes in vitro. The extract was applied topically to mice with age-induced prolonged telogenic phase of hair growth (grey body coat hair). Standard 3H-thymidine incorporation and spectrophotometric methods were followed to illustrate mitogenic and melanogenic effects at the cellular level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The resurgence of blue skin, followed by shiny black hair, at the regions of application of the extract demonstrated the reversal of the age-induced prolonged telogenic phase of hair growth to the anagenic phase after topical application of the extract on C57BL/6J mice. Further support was obtained from histology where, at the extract-treated sites, the development of new melanogenic centers and hair follicles was observed. During in vitro studies, the vehicle-free extract constituents stimulated both mitogenesis and melanogenesis of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The cell morphology and extent of melanogenesis also showed significant changes. In addition, two known melanocyte activity-modulating peptides, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), were determined in the extract, chiefly in the total lipid fraction, indicating their effective cutaneous permeation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extract was found to be a potent mitogen in the in vitro condition and a potent melanogen in both the in vitro and in vivo situations. This strongly suggests its therapeutic potential for the repigmentation of vitiligo patches.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Dermatology Section, Institute of Child Health, Calcutta, India.
authors.forename: Prajnamoy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Shampa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.forename: Samir Kr
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Madhusudan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Ajit Kr
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Pijush K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Rabindranath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bera
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhadra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010920:Placenta / Q000821:virology; D010924:Placental Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D008543:Melanins; D010924:Placental Extracts