title: Sulforaphane inhibited melanin synthesis by regulating tyrosinase gene expression in B16 mouse melanoma cells.
abstract: Sulforaphane is a compound widely present in consumed vegetables, particularly broccoli. Previous studies have demonstrated that sulforaphane has many physiological effects including anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, and detoxification. In this study, we found that sulforaphane inhibited melanogenesis and tyrosinase expression. The inhibitory effect of 5 microM sulforaphane on melanogenesis was determined to be equivalent to that of 100 microM arbutin. In addition, sulforaphane induced phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and inhibited phosphorylated p38. It has been reported that the phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family (ERK and p38) controls tyrosinase expression. Our data indicate that sulforaphane inhibited melanogenesis and tyrosinase expression by affecting the phosphorylated MAP kinase family. These findings indicate that sulforaphane might be an effective skin-whitening agent.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Agriculture and Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shirasugi
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: Ming-Cheh
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suiko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001104:Arbutin / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017879:Isothiocyanates; D008543:Melanins; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; D001104:Arbutin; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C016766:sulforaphane