Abstract

Min-Jin Kim¹, Kwang Hee Hyun², Ji-Hye Hyun², Sobin Im², Jihan Sim², Nam Ho Lee¹ and Chang-Gu Hyun¹

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/330401

Sargassummuticum is a seaweed used in traditional foods on Jeju Island in Korea. The present study tested the effects of S. muticum on melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We obtained S.muticum extract by treating the weed with 70% ethanol and then extracted it with ethyl acetate (EtOAc). The results indicated that the S. muticumEtOAc fraction (SME) downregulated melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. To clarify the target of SME activity in melanogenesis, we performed Western blotting for the key melanogenic enzymes, tyrosinase, dopachrometautomerase (DCT), tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1and microphthalmia-associated factor (MITF). SME inhibited the expression of these enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner. In summary, SME degrades MITF, thereby suppressing melanogenic enzyme activity and melanin production. These findings suggest that SME may be useful a skin-lightening agent to preventhyperpigmentation-related diseases.

Melanin; melanogenesis; microphthalmia-associated factor; Sargassummuticum; tyrosinase

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