title: The skin-depigmenting potential of Paeonia lactiflora root extract and paeoniflorin: in vitro evaluation using reconstructed pigmented human epidermis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The roots of the herb Paeonia lactiflora ('White Peony') are used in association with other herbs in traditional clinical cosmetic practice in China as oral treatment for skin pigmentary disorders, such as brown or dark pigmentary spots. However, the skin-depigmenting potential of Paeonia lactiflora root extract and its main ingredient paeoniflorin has been scarcely investigated by topical application. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Paeonia lactiflora root extract and paeoniflorin as skin whitening agent in cosmetic application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paeonia lactiflora root extract (containing 53.25% of paeoniflorin) and paeoniflorin (97% purity) were applied topically on reconstructed pigmented human epidermis model, a three-dimensional (3D) human skin equivalent, showing morphological and functional characteristics similar to those of in vivo human skin. Two specific methods were used for quantifying melanin inside the reconstructed pigmented epidermis: Fontana-Masson staining (2D quantification) and multiphoton microscopy (3D quantification).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO), a significant decrease in 2D and 3D melanin content was observed after topical application on reconstructed pigmented epidermis of Paeonia lactiflora extract at 300 μg mL(-1) (-28% and -27%, respectively) and paeoniflorin at 120 μg mL(-1) /250 μM (-30% and -23%, respectively), which is in the same order of magnitude as the positive reference 4-n-butylresorcinol at 83 μg mL(-1) /500 μM (-26% and -40%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate, for the first time, the depigmenting potential of paeoniflorin and thus the potential interest of using Paeonia lactiflora root extracts containing paeoniflorin in cosmetic or dermatological applications for reducing the severity of some hyperpigmented skin disorders.
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugène Schueller, 93601 Aulnay sous Bois, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sextius
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugène Schueller, 93601 Aulnay sous Bois, France.
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 550 Jin Yu Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China, 201206.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Research and Innovation, 1 Avenue Eugène Schueller, 93601 Aulnay sous Bois, France. sjeulin@rd.loreal.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeulin
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006027:Glycosides
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations; C015423:peoniflorin; D006027:Glycosides
keywords: cell culture; melanogenesis; paeoniflorin; pigmented epidermis model; skin physiology