Cnidium officinale Makino Extracts Inhibit α-MSH-induced Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells

Purpose: Skin color is determined by melanin distributed in skin, hair, eye, heart, and brain. The melanin protects skin against UV and scavenges cellular ROS. However, the abnormal accumulation of melanin induces hyperpigmentation diseases such as melisma, freckle etc.. Cnidium officinale Makino commonly used to natural medicine in East Asia such as Korea, Japan and China, is called “Chun-kung” in Korea. In present study, we identified the anti-melanogenic effect of Cnidium officinale Makino in B16F10 cells. Methods: Cnidium officinale Makino extracts were prepared by leaching in 70% ethanol. Comparing with control and Cnidium officinale Makino extracts treated B16F10, we identified melanin contents measured by optical density at 450 nm, tyrosinase activity, tyrosinase mRNA and protein expression, MITF activity using MITF. Results: As shown results, we demonstrated that Cnidium officinale Makino extracts down-regulated melanin synthesis using down-regulating activity and expression of tyrosinase which is key enzyme to produce melanin. In addition, we revealed expression of tyrosinase is regulated by MITF through repressing MITF transcriptional activity. Conclusion: Cnidium officinale Makino extracts has potential to repress melanogenesis and decreased of hyperpigmetation and to use as a cosmetic ingredient.