title: Hypopigmentary effects of 4-n-butylresorcinol and resveratrol in combination.
abstract: In the present study, the effects of 4-n-butylresorcinol and/or resveratrol on melanogenesis were studied. To achieve synergistic effects and avoid potential adverse effects, combinations of the agents in low concentrations were investigated. Our results show that 1 microM of 4-n-butylresorcinol and 1 microM of resveratrol did not individually inhibit melanin synthesis. However, the combination of 4-n-butylresorcinol (1 microM) and resveratrol (1 microM) significantly reduced melanin synthesis. Furthermore, 4-n-butylresorcinol (10 microM) and resveratrol (10 microM) decreased melanogenesis much stronger. 4-n-Butylresorcinol is reported to directly inhibit tyrosinase, the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme, without changing tyrosinase levels. Our results also showed that resveratrol did not directly inhibit tyrosinase at 0.1-10 microM. Literature has reported that resveratrol led to post-transcriptional regulation of tyrosinase. However, Western blot analysis showed that neither 4-n-butylresorcinol nor resveratrol alone decreased tyrosinase protein levels. Surprisingly, the combination of 4-n-butylresorcinol and resveratrol reduced tyrosinase levels. Therefore, these results indicate that the synergistic hypopigmentary effect of 4-n-butylresorcinol and resveratrol results from a decreased level of tyrosinase possibly resulting from synergistic action of 4-n-butylresorcinol on tyrosinase alteration by resveratrol.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Su Yeon
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: Kyoung-Chan
authors: KC
authors: Park
authors: Sun-Bang
authors: SB
authors: Kwon
authors: Dong-Seok
authors: DS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077185:Resveratrol; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C508220:4-n-butylresorcinol; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008543:Melanins; D012118:Resorcinols; D013267:Stilbenes; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D000077185:Resveratrol