Bioassay-guided Fractionation of Clove Buds Extract Identifies Eugenol as Potent Melanogenic Inducer in Melanoma Cells

Abstract

jjocs the tautomerization of DOPA-chrome to produce 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) 5) . TRP-1 also oxidizes DHICA to produce carboxylate indole-quinone 6) . TRP-1 and TRP-2 function downstream from tyrosinase in the melanin biosynthesis pathway 6) . At the transcriptional level, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) has a crucial role in the transcription of melanogenic genes, binding to the M-box motif in their promoter regions 7,8) . Therefore, MITF plays an important role in activating melanogenesis. Isolation and identification of melanogenesis inhibitors from natural products have contributed to cosmetic whitening product development and hyperpigmentation disease understanding; however, the number of studies on melanogenesis stimulators is limited.