[Effects of Liuweidihuang Decoction on cell proliferation and melanin synthesis of cultured human melanocytes in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Liuweidihuang Decoction on the proliferation and melanin synthesis of cultured human melanocytes in vitro.


METHODS
MTT assay was used to assess the proliferation of cultured human melanocytes after treatment with Liuweidihuang Decoction, and NaOH assay was employed to determine melanin synthesis.


RESULTS
Liuweidihuang Decoction at the concentration of 5%-15% did not affect the proliferation of the melanocytes (P>0.05), and the decoction at 20%-30% significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, especially at the optimal concentration of 30% (P<0.01). The decoction promoted melanin synthesis in the melanocytes at the concentration of 10%-15% with the optimal concentration of 15% (P<0.01) but failed to produce such an effect at 20%-30%.


CONCLUSIONS
Liuweidihuang Decoction exert a two-way regulation on the proliferation and melanin synthesis of cultured human melanocytes in vitro.
Deng
Yan
Y
School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Liu
Zhen
Z
Xiao
Yan
Y
Liu
Yong-ji
YJ
D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C042579:Liuwei Dihuang Decoction; D008543:Melanins