earticle

영어

Skin pigmentation is achieved by a series of process including melanin synthesis in melanocytes, melanosome release from melanocytes, and melanosome uptake by neighboring keratinocytes. Hyperpigmentation results from increased melanin production in the skin, and usually presents as age spots, uneven color, freckles and sometimes melasma.Tyrosinase is rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis, and influences on oxidation of tyrosine and DOPA. Thus, tyrosinase inhibition is the common target for skin whitening agents such as arbutin[1] and kojic acid[2]. Besides, recent studies suggest various mechanisms or approaches for developing skin whitening agents such as inhibition of melanosome transfers, acceleration of epidermal turnover and desquamation, antioxidants, and so on.In this study, we developed novel whitening agents which inhibit tyrosinase activity and antagonize melanocortin receptor 1(MC1R) at the same time. They are composed of natural origin compound region and peptide region, and prepared by solid phase synthesis [3]. Natural origin compound region having tyrosinase inhibitory activity was selected using mushroom tyrosinase assay. Through this method, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid were screened. Also, peptide region having MC1R antagonist activity was designed by sequences originated from alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone(α-MSH)[4] or agouti signaling protein(ASP). Whitening efficacy test of natural compounds-peptide derivatives was performed by melanin inhibitory assay using B16F1 melanoma cell line.