title: Methyl gallate from Acer barbinerve decreases melanin synthesis in Mel-Ab cells.
abstract: Methyl gallate (MG) was isolated from the bark of Acer barbinerve, which has traditionally been used in Oriental medicine. In the present study, we examined the effects of MG on melanin synthesis in Mel-Ab melanocyte cells. MG decreased melanin pigmentation in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not directly inhibit tyrosinase activity. Further analysis showed that MG had no effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, but induced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β, which is known to increase β-catenin accumulation. Accordingly, the β-catenin level was increased by MG. However, a specific GSK3β inhibitor did not rescue the MG-induced inhibition of melanogenesis. Additionally, MG decreased the protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase, which regulate melanin synthesis. Based on these results, we conclude that MG inhibits melanogenesis by decreasing the expression of MITF and tyrosinase.
authors.forename: In Wook
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo-Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: jeong
authors.forename: Jin Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hak Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Kwang Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Nyoun Soo
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kyoung-Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D031002:Acer / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008543:Melanins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; C052082:methyl gallate; D005707:Gallic Acid; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase