title: Effects of Coccoloba uvifera L. on UV-stimulated melanocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces generation of reactive oxygen species, production of proinflammatory cytokines and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) as well as increase in tyrosinase activity. The potential photoprotective effects of Coccoloba uvifera extract (CUE) were evaluated in UV-stimulated melanocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human epidermal melanocytes were used as an in vitro model to evaluate the effects of CUE on the production interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and alpha-MSH under basal and UV-stimulated conditions. Antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities were also evaluated in membrane lipid peroxidation and mushroom tyrosinase assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coccoloba uvifera L. showed antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities and also inhibited the production of IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and alpha-MSH in melanocytes subjected to UV radiation (P<0.01). Moreover, CUE inhibited the activity of tyrosine kinase in cell culture under basal and UV radiation conditions (P<0.001), corroborating the findings of the mushroom tyrosinase assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the photoprotective potential of CUE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Eleonora Pedroso Sanches
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Maria del Carmen Velazquez
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Pereda
authors.forename: Samara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eberlin
authors.forename: Gustavo Campos
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Dieamant
authors.forename: Luiz Claudio
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Di Stasi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019664:Polygonaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases