title: Inhibitory effect of corn silk on skin pigmentation.
abstract: In this study, the inhibitory effect of corn silk on melanin production was evaluated. This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of corn silk on melanin production in Melan-A cells by measuring melanin production and protein expression. The corn silk extract applied on Melan-A cells at a concentration of 100 ppm decreased melanin production by 37.2% without cytotoxicity. This was a better result than arbutin, a positive whitening agent, which exhibited a 26.8% melanin production inhibitory effect at the same concentration. The corn silk extract did not suppress tyrosinase activity but greatly reduced the expression of tyrosinase in Melan-A cells. In addition, corn silk extract was applied to the human face with hyperpigmentation, and skin color was measured to examine the degree of skin pigment reduction. The application of corn silk extract on faces with hyperpigmentation significantly reduced skin pigmentation without abnormal reactions. Based on the results above, corn silk has good prospects for use as a material for suppressing skin pigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Korea. sychoi@kfri.re.kr.
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Korea. sweetlinda@naver.com.
authors.forename: Yeonmi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Korea. sung@kfri.re.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Korea. yskx24@naver.com.
authors.forename: Hyun Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Dermapro Co. Ltd., Seoul 156-709, Korea. dermapro@dermapro.co.kr.
authors.forename: Ji Hwoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Kwang-Dong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Seoul 137-875, Korea. parkcs@ekdp.com.
authors.forename: Chul-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Kwang-Dong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Seoul 137-875, Korea. dhlee@ekdp.com.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyuk
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D047011:Silk; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase