title: Effects of radix polygoni multiflori components on tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis.
abstract: Radix Polygoni multiflori is a herb used effectively to prevent graying and treat skin depigmentation diseases in traditional Chinese medicine but its active ingredients have not been discovered yet. In this investigation, we tested six compounds isolated from Radix Polygoni multiflori, to discover the active component on melanogenesis. Three experiments were performed in the present investigation: mushroom tyrosinase activity, melanin content B16 cell proliferation assay. Among all the six components tested, THSG showed the most potent effects on tyrosinase activation and melanogenesis; it was shown to be a potent tyrosinase activator and a melanogenesis stimulator in this study. On the other hand, we found that gallic acid significantly inhibited tyrosinase and, in addition, anthraquinones were cytotoxic to melanoma cells. They were both harmful to melanogenesis. Therefore, we propose that THSG acts as the active ingredient of Radix Polygoni multiflori on melanogenesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shuyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peibo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D005707:Gallic Acid; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase