title: Norartocarpetin from a folk medicine Artocarpus communis plays a melanogenesis inhibitor without cytotoxicity in B16F10 cell and skin irritation in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many natural products used in preventive medicine have also been developed as cosmeceutical ingredients in skin care products, such as Scutellaria baicalensis and Gardenia jasminoides. Norartocarpetin is one of the antioxidant and antityrosinase activity compound in Artocarpus communis; however, the cytotoxicity, skin irritation and antimelanogenesis mechanisms of norartocarpetin have not been investigated yet.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, cell viability in vitro and skin irritation in vivo are used to determine the safety of norartocarpetin. The melanogenesis inhibition of norartocarpetin was determined by cellular melanin content and tyrosinase in B16F10 melanoma cell. Moreover, we examined the related-melanogenesis protein by western blot analysis for elucidating the antimelanogenesis mechanism of norartocarpin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result of the present study demonstrated that norartocarpetin not only present non-cytotoxic in B16F10 and human fibroblast cells but also non-skin irritation in mice. Moreover, our result also first found that norartocarpetin downregulated phospho-cAMP response element-binding (phospho-CREB) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression, which in turn decreased both synthesis of tyrosinases (TRP-1 and TRP-2) and cellular melanin content. This process is dependent on norartocarpetin phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinases such as phospho-JNK and phospho-p38, and it results in decreased melanogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that norartocarpetin could be used as a whitening agent in medicine and/or cosmetic industry and need further clinical study.
authors: Horng-Huey
authors: HH
authors: Ko
authors: Yi-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Tsai
authors: Ming-Hong
authors: MH
authors: Yen
authors: Chun-Ching
authors: CC
authors: Lin
authors: Chan-Jung
authors: CJ
authors: Liang
authors: Tsung-Han
authors: TH
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. cwlee@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
authors: Chiang-Wen
authors: CW
authors: Lee
authors: Feng-Lin
authors: FL
authors: Yen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031622:Artocarpus / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D047309:Flavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047309:Flavones; D008543:Melanins; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases