title: Effect of Tunisian Capparis spinosa L. extract on melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells.
abstract: The effect of Tunisian Capparis spinosa L. aromatic plant extract on melanogenesis regulation in B16 murine melanoma cells was investigated. B16 cells were treated with 0.0005, 0.005, and 0.05% (w/v) C. spinosa extract after which the melanin content and cell viability were measured. To clarify the mechanism behind melanogenesis regulation, the expression of tyrosinase was determined. Results showed that the extract had a significant stimulative effect on melanogenesis in B16 cells in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Western blot analysis showed that expression of tyrosinase in cells treated with 0.03% (w/v) C. spinosa extract increased by 12.5- and 20-fold after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively, compared with untreated cells. HPLC analysis of the extract revealed the presence of 1% quercetin, a known melanogenesis stimulator, indicating that our findings may be attributed to quercetin; however, other compounds present in the extract may also have an effect on the overall ability of the extract to stimulate melanogenesis. We report here that Tunisian C. spinosa leaf extract can stimulate melanogenesis in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity by increasing tyrosinase protein expression and has the potential to be used as a possible tanning agent or as a treatment for hair depigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Myra O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Villareal
authors.forename: Abdelfatteh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Omri
authors.forename: Junkyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mohamed Elyes
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kchouk
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isoda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D031484:Capparis / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
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