title: Inhibitory effects of ginseng seed on melanin biosynthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginseng root has been traditionally used for the treatment of many diseases in Korea. However, so far ginseng seed has been mostly unused and discarded. As part of our ongoing research on the ginseng seeds, the inhibitory effect of ginseng seeds on melanin production was verified to assess their potential as a skin depigmenting substance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study measured the inhibitory effect of ginseng seeds on melanin production through the tyrosinase inhibitory effect and analyzed their effects on melanin production in melan-a-cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethanol extract of ginseng seed was applied to melan-a-cells at a concentration of 100 ppm and melanin production was reduced by 35.1% without cytotoxicity. In addition, the ethanol extract of ginseng seed was shown to reduce tyrosinase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the results showed excellent melanin inhibitory activity compared with that obtained by arbutin, ethanol extracts of ginseng leaf and ginseng root at the same concentration, it can be concluded that ginseng seeds show great potential as a skin depigmenting substance.
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeonmi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Tack
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Keun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Melanin; panax ginseng; pigmentation; seed