Bee venom stimulates human melanocyte proliferation, melanogenesis, dendricity and migration

Abstract

Pigmentation may result from melanocyte proliferation, melanogenesis, migration or increases in dendricity. Recently, it has been reported that secreted phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2 ) known as a component of bee venom (BV), stimulates melanocyte dendricity and pigmentation. BV has been used clinically to control rheumatoid arthritis and to ameliorate pain via its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties. Moreover, after treatment with BV, pigmentation around the injection sites was occasionally observed and the pigmentation lasted a few months. However, no study has been done about the effect of BV on melanocytes. Thus, in the present study, we examined the effect of BV on the proliferation, melanogenesis, dendricity and migration in normal human melanocytes and its signal transduction. BV increased the number of melanocytes dose and time dependently through PKA, ERK, and PI3K/Akt activation. The level of cAMP was also increased by BV treatment. Moreover, BV induced melanogenesis through increased tyrosinase expression. Furthermore, BV induced melanocyte dendricity and migration through PLA 2 activation. Overall, in this study, we demonstrated that BV may have an effect on the melanocyte proliferation, melanogenesis, dendricity and migration through complex signaling pathways in vitro, responsible for the pigmentation. Thus, our study suggests a possibility that BV may be developed as a therapeutic drug for inducing repigmentation in vitiligo skin.

Lotus (Nelumbo nuficera) flower essential oil increased melanogenesis in normal human melanocytes

“…In a recent study, we showed that bee venom increases melanogenesis in human melanocytes (Jeon et al, 2007). Moreover, it has been shown that extracts from some herbs, including glycyrrhizin (Jung et al, 2001), Kava rhizome extract (Matsuda et al, 2006) or quercetin (Nagata et al, 2004), increase melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, thereby indicating that natural resources should be extensively screened for the development of gray hair prevention agents or therapeutic drugs to induce repigmentation in the skin of vitiligo patients.…”

Melia azedarach extract stimulates melanogenesis through increase of tyrosinase-related protein 1 expression in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells

“…Second, we found that melanogenesis of B16F10 cells by the MA extract (20 µg/ml) was rapid and that the pellet color of cells was enhanced within 4 h after treatment. To compare the melanogenic effect of MA with other agents, we used the well-known melanogenic inducer forskolin at a concentration (20 µM) that is higher than the concentrations (5 or 10 µM) usually used in other groups (34,35). After incubation with the MA extract (20 µg/ml) for 8 h, the pellet color was darker than that incubated with forskolin (20 µM) for 48 h (Fig.…”

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Vitiligo

“…Bee venom is regarded as ineffective and dangerous because it induces systemic inflammation. However, purified honey bee venom (apitoxin) may be effective in vitiligo (Jeon et al, 2007). Rhododendron schlippenbachii and Lespedeza bicolor show significant improvement in vitiligo lesions when applied topically or combined with phototherapy.…”