Effects of single herbal drugs on adhesion and migration of melanocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To find herbs with effects on adhesion and migration of melanocytes in vitro.


METHODS
Ethanol extracts from 14 herbs were tested. Normal human melanocytes were obtained from neonatal foreskin, and the 48-well culture dish covered with fibronectin was used for the melanocyte adhesion assay. Motility was assessed by using the micropore filter method.


RESULTS
The extracts of Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae) and Honghua (Flos Carthami) could enhance melanocyte adhesion to fibronectin, while Cijili (Fructus Tribuli) and Huangqi (Radix Astragali) promote melanocyte migration in vitro. Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae), Nü Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi) and Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae) could promote both adhesion and migration of melanocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The above herbs may play a role through promoting adhesion and/or migration of melanocytes in the treatment of vitiligo.
Zhang
Xianqi
X
Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710004, China.
Feng
Jie
J
Mu
Kuanhou
K
Ma
Huiqun
H
Niu
Xinwu
X
Liu
Chao
C
Dang
Qianli
Q
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal