Bioassay-Guided Characterization, Antioxidant, Anti-Melanogenic and Anti-Photoaging Activities of Pueraria thunbergiana L. Leaf Extracts in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (HaCaT) Cells

Abstract

Although the roots and flowers of P. thunbergiana are known to have various physiologically active effects, studies on the anti-melanin production and anti-photoaging effects of its leaf extracts and cellular mechanisms are still lacking. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of using Pueraria thunbergiana leaves as a natural material for skin whitening and anti-aging-related functional cosmetics. The 30% ethyl alcohol (EtOH) extract from P. thunbergiana leaves was fractionated using n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol, and aqueous solution to measure their whitening, and anti-aging effects. The EtOAc fraction contained a high content of phenolic and flavonoids and showed higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activities than the other fractions. It was also confirmed that the EtOAc fraction markedly inhibited α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. In addition, the EtOAc fraction showed a protective effect against ultraviolet B (UVB) in HaCaT cells and increased the collagen synthesis that was decreased due to UVB exposure. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity and MMP-1 protein expression were reduced in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells. These results indicate that the EtOAc fraction has superior antioxidant activity, anti-melanogenesis, and anti-photoaging effects compared to the other fractions. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed the potential of P. thunbergiana leaf extract as a functional cosmetic ingredient, and it can be used as basic data for the physiological activity of P. thunbergiana leaf extracts.

Kunzea ericoides (kanuka) leaf extracts show moisturisation, anti-oxidant, and UVB-protection effects in HaCaT cells and anti-melanogenesis effect in B16F10 cells

“…Hyperpigmentation is another signi cant manifestation of skin ageing, often resulting from the UVinduced accumulation of melanin pigments in the skin [39]. UV radiation stimulates keratinocytes to release excessive α-MSH, and the latter upregulates the expression of MITF in melanocytes [13,40,41].…”

“…The UVB protection experiment was performed following methods introduced by previous reports [13]. HaCaT cells were incubated in the presence or absence of kanuka leaf extract for 24 hours.…”

Antimelanogenesis Effect of Methyl Gallate through the Regulation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

“…The process consequently leads to phosphorylation of the cAMP responsive-element binding protein (CREB), which in turn increases the transcription level of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) gene [ 10 , 11 ]. MITF is an important transcription factor for key proteins involved in melanin synthesis in melanocytes that regulates the expressions of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase (Dct), and PKC- β [ 12 , 13 ].…”