Anti-melanogenic activity of the novel herbal medicine, MA128, through inhibition of tyrosinase activity mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase signaling pathway in B16F10 cells

Abstract

Background:Recently, our research group developed MA128, a novel herbal medicine, and demonstrated that MA128 is effective for the treatment of asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD). In particular, postinflammatory hyper-pigmentation in AD mice was improved with MA128 treatment. Thus, in this study, we determined the effect of MA128 on melanogenesis and its underlying mechanism in murine B16F10 melanoma cells.Materials and Methods:After treatment with MA128 at 100 and 250 μg/mL and/or alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) (1 μM), cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells were measured. Using western blotting, expression levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and activation of c-AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), c-AMP-related element binding protein (CREB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were examined.Results:MA128 significantly inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a resting state as well as α-MSH-stimulating condition, and significantly decreased the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 and MITF. In addition, phosphorylation of PKA and CREB by α-MSH stimulation was efficiently blocked by MA128 pretreatment. Moreover, MA128 as an herbal mixture showed synergistic anti-melanogenic effects compared with each single constituent herb.Conclusion:MA128 showed anti-melanogenic activity through inhibition of tyrosinase activity mediated by p38 MAPK and PKA signaling pathways in B16F10 cells. These results suggest that MA128 may be useful as an herbal medicine for controlling hyper-pigmentation and as a skin-whitening agent.

Fermented herbal formula KIOM-MA-128 protects against acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice

“…The preparation of K-M-128 has been previously described [6, 11]. Briefly, the KIOM-MA formula ( Glycyrrhizae Radix , Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma , Sophorae Flavescentis Radix , Cnidii Rhizoma , Arctii Fructus , Ginseng Radix Alba , Scrophulariae Radix , Zizyphi Semen , Angelica Gigantis Radix , and Saposhnikovia Radix ) was purchased from the Korea Medical Herbs Association (Yeongcheon, Korea), and the identification was confirmed by Porf.…”

“…Briefly, the KIOM-MA formula ( Glycyrrhizae Radix , Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma , Sophorae Flavescentis Radix , Cnidii Rhizoma , Arctii Fructus , Ginseng Radix Alba , Scrophulariae Radix , Zizyphi Semen , Angelica Gigantis Radix , and Saposhnikovia Radix ) was purchased from the Korea Medical Herbs Association (Yeongcheon, Korea), and the identification was confirmed by Porf. KiHwan Bae (The College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea) [7, 11]. A total of 1.84 kg of this formula (the ratios of each constituent of KIOM-MA are shown in Table 1) was placed in 18.4 L of water and then extracted by boiling for 3 h at 115 °C.…”

Fermented Herbal Formulas KIOM-MA128 Ameliorate IL-6-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Colon Cancer Cell Line

“…The preparation of KIOM-MA128 has been previously described [15, 16]. Briefly, all herbs for the preparation of MA, including Glycyrrhizae radix, Polygoni cuspidati radix, Sophorae radix, Cnidii rhizoma, and Arctii fructus , were purchased from the Korea Medicinal Herbs Association (Yeongcheon, Korea).…”

Jaeumganghwa-Tang Induces Apoptosis via the Mitochondrial Pathway and Lactobacillus Fermentation Enhances Its Anti-Cancer Activity in HT1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells

“…Prior to fermentation, decoction JGT was adjusted to pH 7.0 using 1 M NaOH and then sterilized by autoclaving for 15 min at 121°C. A pure culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (KFRI162) was obtained from Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI) and incubated in MRS medium for 24 h at 37°C as described previously [ 20 ]. To prepare fJGT162, autoclaved JGT (aJGT) was added with 1 × 10 8 CFU/mL L .…”