Sulforaphane inhibited melanin synthesis by regulating tyrosinase gene expression in B16 mouse melanoma cells.
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.
Shirasugi
Ichiro
I
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Agriculture and Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
Kamada
Miyuki
M
Matsui
Takashi
T
Sakakibara
Yoichi
Y
Liu
Ming-Cheh
MC
Suiko
Masahito
M
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
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