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

Abstract

Abstract. Melia azedarach (MA) has been used in folk medicine in Asia for the treatment of several diseases. Several constituents from MA possess anti-herpetic, anti-angiogenic and anticancer properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 70% ethanol extract of MA on melanogenesis and the underlying mechanisms involved. A B16F10 mouse melanoma cell line was used in our experiments. Treatment of B16F10 cells with the MA extract (10, 20 and 40 µg/ml) increased melanin content in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxicity at 24 h. Further experiments indicated that the MA extract (20 µg/ml) increased melanin content as early as at 4 h after treatment. Additionally, although the MA extract did not affect intracellular tyrosinase activity and the protein levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) at 2 and 4 h after treatment, the MA extract increased TRP-1 protein expression at both time points. However, no significant effect of the MA extract treatment on TRP-1 mRNA level at the time points measured was observed. In conclusion, the results from the present study demonstrate that the MA extract increases melanogenesis through the upregulation of TRP-1 protein expression by post-transcriptional control in B16F10 cells and suggest that the MA extract can be viewed as a rapid inducer of melanogenesis, thus rendering it a potential treatment for hypopigmentation diseases including vitiligo.

Influence of plasma-activated compounds on melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity

“…Briefly, we found increase in the expression of cAMP, MITF, and TRP1 but not tyrosinase expression after cellular incubation with ED (4a and 6b) and PAED (4a and 6b). A recent report 49 represents similar results in which Melia azedarach (MA) extract increased the melanin content in B16F10 cells without affecting intracellular tyrosinase. Conversely, the Melia azedarach (MA) extract remarkably increased the expression of TRP1 protein.…”

“…Conversely, the Melia azedarach (MA) extract remarkably increased the expression of TRP1 protein. Therefore, they concluded that TRP1 is responsible for higher melanin production 49 . Interestingly, in another study the down-regulation of TRP1 was reported to be involved in melanin inhibition but there was no significant change in the expression of tyrosinase 50 .…”

Upregulation of Melanogenesis and Tyrosinase Activity: Potential Agents for Vitiligo

“…70% ethanol extract of Melia azedarach was demonstrated to rapidly increase melanin content in a concentration-dependent manner within 4 h [ 50 ]. Additionally, although the extract did not affect intracellular tyrosinase activity, protein levels of tyrosinase and TRP-2 at 2 and 4 h after treatment, it could improve TRP-1 protein expression at both time points.…”

The skin protective effects of compound K, a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng

“…The fact that CK stimulated melanogenesis led us to the hypothesis that CK does not have a whitening effect but might possess photoprotection activity at the cellular level. This UVB-protective effect suggests that CK can retard skin damage such as skin aging and wrinkle formation [5] , [43] . It is possible that some biological activities of CK could be managed by melanin action [42] .…”

“…2 C), implying that CK could not modulate melanin synthesis process as well as secretion pathway. Melanogenesis is a complex biological process to synthesize melanin, which protects the skin from UV irradiation [42] , [43] . CK did not have any influence on tyrosinase activity or extracellular melanin secretion, but did increase intracellular melanin levels.…”