Inhibitory effects of 1-O-methyl-fructofuranose from Schisandra chinensis fruit on melanogenesis in B16F0 melanoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
1-O-methyl-fructofuranose (1-O-MFF) from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis is a traditional Korean medicinal herb that has a variety of beneficial properties. The effect of purified 1-O-MFF on melanogenesis including the activation of related signaling pathways was investigated.


METHODS
The inhibitory activities of 1-O-MFF were examined by melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity assay, Western blot and flow cytometric analyses in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells.


RESULTS
1-O-MFF significantly inhibited both melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and reduced the expression of melanogenic proteins including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1. 1-O-MFF phosphorylated and activated melanogenesis inhibitory proteins such as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt. Flow cytometry confirmed that 1-O-MFF phosphorylated ERK and Akt proteins and recovered partially phosphorylated forms in cells treated with the MEK/ERK inhibitor compound PD98059 and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor compound LY294002.


CONCLUSIONS
The suppressive effects of 1-O-MFF on melanogenesis may involve down-regulation of MITF and its downstream signal pathway via the activation of MEK/ERK or PI3K/Akt.
Oh
Eun Young
EY
Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
Jang
Ji Yeon
JY
Choi
Yung Hyun
YH
Choi
Young Whan
YW
Choi
Byung Tae
BT
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D032141:Schisandra / Q000737:chemistry*
D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; C099954:methylfructoside; D005632:Fructose; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases