title: Inhibitory effects of alpha-arbutin on melanin synthesis in cultured human melanoma cells and a three-dimensional human skin model.
abstract: We studied the inhibitory effects of 4-hydroxyphenyl alpha-glucopyranoside (alpha-arbutin) on melanogenesis in cultured human melanoma cells, HMV-II, and in a three-dimensional cultured human skin model. alpha-Arbutin showed no inhibitory effect on HMV-II cell growth at a concentration below 1.0 mM. Melanin synthesis in cells treated with alpha-arbutin at 0.5 mM decreased to 76% of that in non-treated cells. The cellular tyrosinase activity of HMV-II cells also significantly decreased, while the expression of its mRNA was not affected. Melanin synthesis in a human skin model was also evaluated by the macro- and microscopic observation of its pigmentation as well as by quantitative measurements of melanin. Treatment of the human skin model with 250 microg of alpha-arbutin did not inhibit cell viability, while melanin synthesis was reduced to 40% of that in the control. These results indicate that alpha-arbutin is an effective and safe ingredient for skin-lightening.
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Research Laboratory, Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd., 4-6-5 Utajima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka 555-8502, Japan. sugimoto-kazuhisa@glico.co.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuriki
mesh_terms: D001104:Arbutin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008545:Melanoma; D008954:Models, Biological; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008543:Melanins; D001104:Arbutin; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase