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Anti-melanogenic effect of gomisin N from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon (Schisandraceae) in melanoma cells

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Abstract

Overproduction and accumulation of melanin in the skin can lead to pigmentation disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Many researchers are studying the regulation of melanogenesis in the skin with the aim of developing whitening cosmetics. In this study, bioactivity-guided separation of the hexane fraction of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon extract yielded five major compounds, β-chamigrenal, α-ylangenol, gomisin N, gomisin A, and schisandrin. The structures were identified by using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and comparing the spectral data with published data. Melanogenesis inhibitory activity assay in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced B16F10 mouse melanoma cells revealed that gomisin N was the active component and significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, we evaluated the mechanism underlying its anti-melanogenic effect. Gomisin N inhibited the expression of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in B16F10 cells, while it did not affect cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. Additionally, gomisin N activated AKT phosphorylation, which inhibits MITF expression. Thus, our results strongly suggest that the active compound, gomisin N, has potential for use in cosmetics to reduce hyperpigmentation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant Number: HI14C1234).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Bio Convergence R&D Center, CoSeedBioPharm Corporation, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28161, South Korea

      JungNo Lee, Hwa Sun Ryu, Jae-Moon Kim & Sung-Min Park

    2. Skin Research Institute, Korea Kolmar Corporation, Yeongi-Gun, Chungnam, 30004, South Korea

      Tae-Hwa Jung

    3. College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae, Seowon, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28644, South Korea

      JungNo Lee & Yong-Moon Lee

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    JungNo Lee and Hwa Sun Ryu contributed equally to this paper.

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    Lee, J., Ryu, H.S., Kim, JM. et al. Anti-melanogenic effect of gomisin N from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon (Schisandraceae) in melanoma cells. Arch. Pharm. Res. 40, 807–817 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-017-0903-4

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