title: Inhibitory effect of a novel combination of Salvia hispanica (chia) seed and Punica granatum (pomegranate) fruit extracts on melanin production.
abstract: In recent years, dietary fatty acids have been extensively evaluated for nutritional as well as cosmetic benefits. Among the dietary fats, the omega-3 (ω3) and omega-6 (ω6) forms of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been found to exhibit many biological functions in the skin such as prevention of transepidermal water loss, maintenance of the stratum corneum epidermal barrier, and disruption of melanogenesis in epidermal melanocytes. In this study, we examined the effect of chia seed extract, high in ω3 (linolenic acid) and ω6 (linoleic acid) PUFAs, for its capacity to affect melanogenesis. Chia seed extract was shown to inhibit melanin biosynthesis in Melan-a cells; however, linoleic and α-linolenic acids alone did not effectively reduce melanin content. Further investigation demonstrated that chia seed extract in combination with pomegranate fruit extract had a synergistic effect on the inhibition of melanin biosynthesis with no corresponding effect on tyrosinase activity. Investigation of the possible mechanism of action revealed that chia seed extract downregulated expression of melanogenesis-related genes (Tyr, Tyrp1, and Mc1r), alone and in combination with pomegranate fruit extract, suggesting that the inhibition of melanin biosynthesis by a novel combination of chia seed and pomegranate fruit extracts is possibly due to the downregulation of gene expression of key melanogenic enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences, Research & Development, Amway Corporation, 7575 Fulton St East, Ada, MI 49355, USA. Electronic address: ganesh.diwakar@amway.com.
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diwakar
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences, Research & Development, Amway Corporation, 7575 Fulton St East, Ada, MI 49355, USA. Electronic address: jatinder.rana@amway.com.
authors.forename: Jatinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Nutrilite Division of Amway, Concentrate Development, 19600 6th Street, Lakeview, CA 92567, USA. Electronic address: lisa.saito@amway.com.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences, Research & Development, Amway Corporation, 7575 Fulton St East, Ada, MI 49355, USA. Electronic address: doug_vredeveld@amway.com.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vredeveld
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences, Research & Development, Amway Corporation, 7575 Fulton St East, Ada, MI 49355, USA. Electronic address: dorothy_zemaitis@amway.com.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zemaitis
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences, Research & Development, Amway Corporation, 7575 Fulton St East, Ada, MI 49355, USA. Electronic address: jeff.scholten@amway.com.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000032:analysis; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D008543:Melanins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C079621:Tyrp1 protein, mouse; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
keywords: Chia seed extract; Melan-a cells; Melanin production; PUFAs; Pomegranate fruit extract; Tyrosinase