title: Effects of sesquiterpene lactones on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells.
abstract: In this study, we examined the effect of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Calea urticifolia and Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells. In response to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthin (IBMX), B16 melanoma cells underwent differentiation characterized by increased melanin biosynthesis. Treatment of sesquiterpene lactones at lower concentration (1 microM) significantly blocked IBMX-induced melanogenesis, but did not induce the inhibitory activity of cell growth. Among them, 2,3-epoxyjuanislamin exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis. Treatment of B16 cells with 2,3-epoxyjuanislamin elicited significant decreases in tyrosinase protein and mRNA levels. These results demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of sesquiterpene lactones on melanin biosynthesis may be due to the suppression of tyrosinase expression.
authors.affiliation: Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology, Kakamigahara, Gifu, Japan. kohguchi@giib.or.jp
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohguchi
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Munekazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iinuma
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akao
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D031203:Tanacetum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D008543:Melanins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine