title: Stimulation of melanogenesis by nordihydroguaiaretic Acid in human melanoma cells.
abstract: Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lignan found in vegetables, fruits and legumin, has been shown to possess antineoplastic, antiviral and antioxidant characteristics. In this study, we examined the effect of NDGA on melanogenesis in human melanoma cells (HMVII). In vitro, NDGA does not alter mushroom tyrosinase activity. However, in NDGA-treated HMVII cells, cellular tyrosinase activity increased in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The concomitant increases in melanin content in NDGA-treated cells indicated an elevation of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase activation. In addition, after a 7-day incubation, melanin content in 20 μM NDGA-treated cells increased 5.02 fold. Tyrosinase protein also increased by treatment with NDGA. Nevertheless, tyrosinase mRNA was not altered in NDGA-treated cells. Our results suggest that NDGA can increase tyrosinase activity and de novo synthesis of melanin in human melanoma cells. We found that NDGA is a novel potent stimulator of melanogenesis in human melanoma cells.
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Division of Host Defense Mechanism, Tokai University School of Medicine , 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors: Susumu
authors: S
authors: Takekoshi
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Division of Host Defense Mechanism, Tokai University School of Medicine , 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors: Hidetaka
authors: H
authors: Nagata
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Division of Host Defense Mechanism, Tokai University School of Medicine , 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors: Kanae
authors: K
authors: Kitatani
keywords: HMVII melanoma cells; melanin; melanogenesis; nordihydroguaiaretic acid; tyrosinase