Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and Whitening effect of Benincasa hispida seed extract

To investigate the natural cosmetic ingredients of Benincasa hispida seed extract on skin care, we measured anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, and whitening effect. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner. The total phenolic content was higher in methanol extract (22.42±0.002 mgGAE/g) than water extract (9.77±0.002 mgGAE/g). MTT assay was demonstrated that the seed extract did not have a cytotoxic effect in RAW264.7 and B16F10 cell lines. We also examined to find out the inhibitory activity on NO production and secretion of TNF-α cytokine in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In B16F10 melanoma cells, the seed extract significantly suppressed α-MSH induced melanin synthesis. Furthermore, westernblot analysis revealed that methanol extract dramatically downregulated the expression level of MITF, TRP-1 and TRP-2. Taken together, the B. hispida seed extract posses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and skin whitening activities, which might provided its functional efficacy in cosmetic materials.