Anti-oxidant and Anti-melanogenic Activity of the Methanol Extract of Pine Cone

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate anti-oxidant and anti-melanogenic activities of pine cone extract from Pinus densiflora. Methods: Pine cone extract used in this experiment was extracted with methanol at room temperature for 24 h. Anti-oxidant activities were measured by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) assay. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of pine cone methanol extract on tyrosinase and melanin synthesis in murine B16-F10 melanoma cells were studied. In addition, cell viability was investigated by MTT assay. Results: The results showed that the pine cone methanol extract strongly reduced the DPPH free radical activity (IC 50 =9.57±1.24 μg/mL). However, its activity was lower than the activity of L-ascorbic acid (positive control, IC 50 =1.28±0.03 μg/mL). In NBT assay, the pine cone methanol extract exhibited more superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (IC 50 =3.33±0.28 μg/mL), compared with L-ascorbic acid (IC 50 =73.25±1.02 μg/mL). When treated with 3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) as the substrate of tyrosinase, the extract inhibited the tyrosinase activity with an IC 50 value of 106.15±1.69 μg/mL, lower effect than that of kojic acid (IC 50 =3.12±0.68 μg/mL). In murine B16-F10 cells, the pine cone methanol extract significantly suppressed melanogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Conclusion: The results indicated that pine cone extract could be potentially valuable as a new potent depigmentation agent.

Effect of Cone of Pinus densiflora on DNCB-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesion in Balb/c Mice

“…This study used a Cone of Pinus densiflora (CP), or a Korean red pine cone, which is a cluster of the Pinus densiflora fruit. Recent studies have shown the anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-melanogenic, and anti-viral effects of pinecones [35][36][37][38][39][40]. In addition, studies on terpenes and tannins, the main constituents of pinecones, have also been actively conducted.…”

Investigation of the composition of phenolic compounds, the antiradical activity and the effect on phagocytosis of pine cones dry aqueous extract

“…Выделенные фенольные соединения шишек сосны при низкой токсичности обладали высокой антиоксидантной и противоопухолевой активностью, проявляли антиаллергический эффект [3][4][5][8][9][10][11][12]. Экстракты шишек сосны оказывали влияние и на иммунную систему, в частности, усиливали пролиферативную фазу первичного Т-клеточного иммунного ответа и стимулировали дифференцировку мононуклеаров периферической крови в зрелые дендритные клетки [13,14].…”