TY - JOUR
T1 - Involvement of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the anti-melanogenic effect of San-bai-tang, a Chinese herbal formula, in B16 cells
AU - Ye, Yan
AU - Chu, Jian Hong
AU - Wang, Hui
AU - Xu, Hong
AU - Chou, Gui Xin
AU - Leung, Alexander Kai Man
AU - FONG, David W F
AU - YU, Zhiling
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by a grant, FRG1/09-10/042 , from the Hong Kong Baptist University . We thank Dr. Hiu Yee Kwan for critical reading of this manuscript.
PY - 2010/11/11
Y1 - 2010/11/11
N2 - Aim of the study: San-bai-tang (SBT), a Chinese herbal formula, is traditionally used as a skin whitener in China. In our previous screening assays, SBT was identified as an effective tyrosinase inhibitor. In this study, we aim to investigate the anti-melanogenic effect and mechanisms of SBT in B16 cells. Materials and methods: Cell viability was examined by the MTT assay. Cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content were determined using spectrophotographic methods. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. Results: SBT inhibited tyrosinase activity with an IC50 of 215.6±10.3μg/ml, and decreased cellular melanin content with an IC50 of 254.8±14.5μg/ml at 48h. MTT assay demonstrated that 48-h SBT (50-400μg/ml) treatment did not show obvious cytotoxicity. Immunoblot analysis showed that SBT (100, 200 or 400μg/ml) treatment for 48h down-regulated the expression levels of phosphorylated-p38, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: SBT inhibited melanogenesis in B16 cells, and suppression of p38 MAPK signaling pathway contributed to the anti-melanogenic effect of SBT by down-regulating the expression of MITF and melanogenic enzymes. These novel findings demonstrated the anti-melanogenic effect and mechanisms of SBT, and provide pharmacological basis for the traditional use of SBT.
AB - Aim of the study: San-bai-tang (SBT), a Chinese herbal formula, is traditionally used as a skin whitener in China. In our previous screening assays, SBT was identified as an effective tyrosinase inhibitor. In this study, we aim to investigate the anti-melanogenic effect and mechanisms of SBT in B16 cells. Materials and methods: Cell viability was examined by the MTT assay. Cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content were determined using spectrophotographic methods. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. Results: SBT inhibited tyrosinase activity with an IC50 of 215.6±10.3μg/ml, and decreased cellular melanin content with an IC50 of 254.8±14.5μg/ml at 48h. MTT assay demonstrated that 48-h SBT (50-400μg/ml) treatment did not show obvious cytotoxicity. Immunoblot analysis showed that SBT (100, 200 or 400μg/ml) treatment for 48h down-regulated the expression levels of phosphorylated-p38, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: SBT inhibited melanogenesis in B16 cells, and suppression of p38 MAPK signaling pathway contributed to the anti-melanogenic effect of SBT by down-regulating the expression of MITF and melanogenic enzymes. These novel findings demonstrated the anti-melanogenic effect and mechanisms of SBT, and provide pharmacological basis for the traditional use of SBT.
KW - B16 cells
KW - Melanogenesis
KW - P38 MAPK
KW - San-bai-tang
KW - Traditional Chinese medicine
KW - Tyrosinase
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78049367086&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jep.2010.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jep.2010.09.007
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20837127
AN - SCOPUS:78049367086
SN - 0378-8741
VL - 132
SP - 533
EP - 535
JO - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
JF - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
IS - 2
ER -