Biorenovation-Assisted Modifiction of Ligustrum japonicum Extract for Skin-Whitening Effect

Biorenovation is a microbial enzyme-based structural modification of component compounds in natural products and synthetic compounds including plant crude-extracts with the potential benefits of reduced cytotoxicities and improved biological activities compared with its reaction substrates. In this study, we examined the whitening effect of Ligustrum japonicum (LJ) and LJ biorenovation extract (LJBR) in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. In the non-toxic concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml, the inhibitory effect of LJ and LJBR on melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity was observed. LJBR exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity relative to its reaction substrate LJ. In addition, the protein expression level of MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase, which are known to play a critical role in melanin synthesis, was measured. As expected, a greater inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was observed in LJBR than in untreated group. These findings strongly suggest that biorenovation can assist the generation of a novel skin-lightening material.