title: Vitis amurensis Ruprecht root inhibited α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The root of Vitis amurensis Ruprecht, a sort of wild-growing grape, has been used in oriental medicine for treatment of skin ailments; however, its dermatological activity is not sufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-melanogenic activities of V. amurensis Ruprecht root methanol extract (VARM) in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells and to attempt to isolate and identify the active compound issued from VARM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-melanogenic activity of VARM was analyzed in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells through evaluation of antioxidative activity as well as inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin contents compared with those of kojic acid and arbutin. After anti-melanogenic analysis of VARM, serial fractionation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thin layer chromatorgraphy (TLC) were applied for identification of active compounds contained in VARM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VARM significantly inhibited oxidative stress and tyrosinase activity and attenuated α-MSH-induced melanin production in B16F10 cells. For isolation of active compounds, VARM was fractionated using a series of organic solvents, including dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). Among fractions showing anti-melanogenic activity, the CH2Cl2 fraction induced the most potent attenuation of melanogenesis without cytotoxicity and the major compound in the CH2Cl2 fraction was identified as betulinic acid. Betulinic acid isolated from the CH2Cl2 fraction of VARM significantly attenuated α-MSH-induced melanogenesis in a dose dependent manner, which was stronger than that of arbutin used as a positive control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that VARM inhibits oxidative stress, tyrosinase activity, and α-MSH-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells, due primarily to the active compound, betulinic acid, in the CH2Cl2 fraction.
authors.affiliation: Blue-Bio Industry Regional Innovation Center, Dong-Eui University, 176 Eomgwangno, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyong-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Blue-Bio Industry Regional Innovation Center, Dong-Eui University, 176 Eomgwangno, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea.
authors.forename: You Na
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Blue-Bio Industry Regional Innovation Center, Dong-Eui University, 176 Eomgwangno, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea. ; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Natural Science, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Sook Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Blue-Bio Industry Regional Innovation Center, Dong-Eui University, 176 Eomgwangno, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea. ; Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Science, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Blue-Bio Industry Regional Innovation Center, Dong-Eui University, 176 Eomgwangno, Busanjin-gu, Busan 614-714, Korea. ; Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Science, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-714, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Vitis amurensis Ruprecht root; anti-oxidation; betulinic acid; melanogenesis; tyrosinase