earticle

영어

As part of effects to discover phytochemicals with melanin biosynthesis inhibitory activity, we screened emodin isolated from Polygonum multiflorum as a melanin biosynthesis inhibitor. Emodin dose-dependently inhibited the level of melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells, with little cytotoxicity at the effective concentrations. Decreased melanin content was accompanied by reduced tyrosinase synthesis. Emodin also downregulated the activation of microphthalmia- associated transcription factor (MITF), a master transcriptional regulator of key melanogenic enzymes. Comprehensively, emodin inhibited forskolin-induced tyrosinase synthesis, suggesting an action on the MITF- dependent melanogenic pathway. These results suggest that emodin might act as effective depigmenting agents.