Flavonoids, taxifolin and luteolin attenuate cellular melanogenesis despite increasing tyrosinase protein levels.
Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants. Their potent bio-activities and relatively low toxicity have rendered them useful ingredients in functional cosmetics. The purpose of the present study was to examine their potential effects on cellular melanogenesis. When tested in murine melanoma B16F10 cells activated by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), taxifolin and luteolin inhibited the cellular melanogenesis as effectively as arbutin, one of the most widely used hypopigmenting agents in cosmetics. As opposed to their antimelanogenic effects, taxifolin and luteolin rather increased the tyrosinase protein levels in the absence and presence of alpha-MSH. However, these flavonoids effectively inhibited tyrosinase-catalysed oxidation of l-dihydroxyphenylalanine in cell-free extracts and in living cells. Furthermore, they attenuated cell pigmentation induced by expression of exogenous human tyrosinase. Therefore, the antimelanogenic effects of taxifolin and luteolin are attributed to their inhibitory effects on tyrosinase enzymatic activity, despite their effects on increasing tyrosinase protein levels.
An
Sang Mi
SM
Department of Molecular Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 101 Dongindong-2-ga, Junggu, Daegu, 700-422, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hyo Jung
HJ
Kim
Jung-Eun
JE
Boo
Yong Chool
YC
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047311:Luteolin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D005419:Flavonoids; D008543:Melanins; D011794:Quercetin; C003377:taxifolin; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D047311:Luteolin