title: trans-Caffeic acid stearyl ester from Paeonia suffruticosa inhibits melanin synthesis by cAMP-mediating down-regulation of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated melanogenesis signaling pathway in B16 cells.
abstract: trans-Caffeic acid stearyl ester (TCASE) from the root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa ANDREWS is a traditional medicinal herb that has several beneficial properties. However, the inhibitory effect of TCASE on melanogenesis has not been explored. In the cell viability assay, TCASE did not show a cytotoxic effect at a dose of 65 µM for 48 h in B16, HaCaT and Hs68 cells. TCASE considerably inhibits melanin synthesis, and reduces intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, tyrosinase activity and L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-alanine (DOPA) oxidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in B16 cells, and the inhibition efficiency of TCASE exceeds that of ascorbic acid and arbutin. TCASE reduces melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) and TRP-1 mRNA and protein levels in B16 cells. Based on the findings, TCASE is posited to inhibit melanogenesis signaling while suppressing cAMP levels and, subsequently, MC1R, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-2 and TRP-1 down-regulation, resulting in the suppression of tyrosinase activity, DOPA oxidase activity and melanin synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Tzung-Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Hsiou-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000242:Cyclic AMP; C040048:caffeic acid