Optimization of Ultrasonic Flavonoid Extraction from Saussurea involucrate, and the Ability of Flavonoids to Block Melanin Deposition in Human Melanocytes

(1) Background: Flavonoids are the primary medicinal ingredient of Saussurea involucrate, which have significant antioxidant capacity. Optimizing the extraction of Saussurea involucrate flavonoids (SIFs) and exploring the ability to block melanin deposition caused by reactive oxygen can greatly promote the development of S. involucrate whitening products. (2) Methods: Ultrasonic extraction process was optimized using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Then, the effect of SIFs on antioxidant activity and anti-deposition of melanin, and genes related to the melanin synthesis are studied. (3) Results: The optimal extraction procedures are as follows: the extraction time, ethanol content, and solvent ratio (v/w) are 64 min, 54%, and 54:1, respectively. The reducing activity and scavenging rates of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and ABTS+ were promoted as more S. involucrate flavonoid extract was added. The SIFs extract induced a decrease in the melanin synthesis by inhibiting the human melanoma A375 cell tyrosinase activity. SIFs also depress expression of melanin synthesis related genes. (4) Conclusions: the highest SIFs content was obtained by using 54% ethanol and 54:1 solvent ratio (v/w) for 64 min. The extract of SIFs exhibited good ability of antioxidant and anti-deposition of melanin in human melanocytes.

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A Novel Pro-Melanogenic Effect of Standardized Dry Olive Leaf Extract on Primary Human Melanocytes from Lightly Pigmented and Moderately Pigmented Skin

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14030252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 252

Author(s):

Shilpi Goenka ◽

Sanford R. Simon

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Leaf Extract ◽

Melanoma Cells ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Human Melanoma ◽

Melanin Synthesis ◽

Olive Leaf ◽

Olive Leaf Extract ◽

Gray Hair ◽

Human Melanocytes

Benolea® (EFLA®943) is a standardized dry olive leaf extract (DOLE) considered safe for food consumption and has demonstrated superior pharmaceutical benefits such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive activities. However, there is no study on its effects on melanogenesis yet. Disruption in the sequence of steps in melanogenesis can lead to hypopigmentary disorders which occur due to reduced production or export of pigment melanin in the skin. There is a need for safe and nontoxic therapeutics for the treatment of hypopigmentation disorders. Herein, we studied the effects of DOLE over a concentration range of 10–200 µg/mL on melanin synthesis and melanin secretion in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells and MNT-1 human melanoma cells and validated our results in primary human melanocytes (obtained from lightly pigmented (LP) and moderately pigmented (MP) cells) as well as their cocultures with keratinocytes. The capacity of melanocytes to export melanosomes was also estimated indirectly by the quantitation of melanocyte dendrite lengths and numbers. Our results show that DOLE significantly enhanced levels of extracellular melanin in the absence of effects on intracellular melanin, demonstrating that this plant extract’s pro-melanogenic activity is primarily based on its capacity to augment melanin secretion and stimulate melanocyte dendricity. In summary, our preliminary results demonstrate that DOLE may hold promise as a pro-pigmenting agent for vitiligo therapy and gray hair treatment by its exclusive and novel mechanism of functioning as a dendrite elongator. Further studies to elucidate the mechanisms of action of the pro-melanogenic activity and effects of DOLE on melanosome export as well as the last steps of melanogenesis are warranted.

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Phycocyanin content and nutritional profile of Arthrospira platensis from Mexico: efficient extraction process and stability evaluation of phycocyanin

BMC Chemistry ◽

10.1186/s13065-021-00746-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sanghamitra Khandual ◽

Edgar Omar Lopez Sanchez ◽

Hugo Espinosa Andrews ◽

Jose Daniel Padilla de la Rosa

Keyword(s):

Storage Temperature ◽

Extraction Process ◽

Arthrospira Platensis ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Precipitation Method ◽

Partial Purification ◽

Natural Food ◽

Solvent Ratio ◽

C Storage ◽

Dry Biomass

AbstractPhycocyanin is a blue natural food colorant with multiple health benefits. Here we propose an efficient phycocyanin extraction method from Arthrospira platensis from Mexico. Three extraction methods were applied to optimize the extraction process, using water and buffer as solvents, with three pH values at two agitation times. The highest phycocyanin, 54.65 mg/g, was extracted from dry biomass with water as a solvent using an ultrasonication bar. The optimum condition of extraction was determined to be 1:50 biomass/solvent ratio for dry biomass, with the freeze/thaw method for 20 min repeated twice, and then agitated at 120 rpm for 24 h. The phycocyanin content was 48.88 mg/g biomass, with a purity of 0.47. For scalable phycocyanin productivity, the sonication method is recommended as there is no statistical difference. The phycocyanin stability was best at − 20 °C storage temperature at pH 7 for 35 days. Partial purification with ammonium sulfate was found to be suitable as a fractional precipitation method, first at 0–20% and then 20–65%, to get purity nearly 1. Total protein was found to be 55.52%, and total amino acids after phycocyanin extraction was 33%. The maximum phycocyanin yield using water as a solvent was the most interesting result regardless of the method used for extraction.

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Molecular and Biochemical Basis of Minocycline-Induced Hyperpigmentation—The Study on Normal Human Melanocytes Exposed to UVA and UVB Radiation

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073755 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3755

Author(s):

Jakub Rok ◽

Zuzanna Rzepka ◽

Justyna Kowalska ◽

Klaudia Banach ◽

Artur Beberok ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Uv Radiation ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Melanin Synthesis ◽

Uvb Radiation ◽

Biochemical Basis ◽

Skin Hyperpigmentation ◽

Human Melanocytes ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Normal Human

Minocycline is a drug which induces skin hyperpigmentation. Its frequency reaches up to 50% of treated patients. The adverse effect diminishes the great therapeutic potential of minocycline, including antibacterial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer actions. It is supposed that an elevated melanin level and drug accumulation in melanin-containing cells are related to skin hyperpigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate molecular and biochemical mechanism of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation in human normal melanocytes, as well as the contribution of UV radiation to this side effect. The experiments involved the evaluation of cyto- and phototoxic potential of the drug using cell imaging with light and confocal microscopes as well as biochemical and molecular analysis of melanogenesis. We showed that minocycline induced melanin synthesis in epidermal melanocytes. The action was intensified by UV irradiation, especially with the UVB spectrum. Minocycline stimulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase (TYR) gene. Higher levels of melanin and increased activity of tyrosinase were also observed in treated cells. Moreover, minocycline triggered the supranuclear accumulation of tyrosinase, similar to UV radiation. The decreased level of premelanosome protein PMEL17 observed in all minocycline-treated cultures suggests disorder of the formation, maturation or distribution of melanosomes. The study revealed that minocycline itself was able to enhance melanin synthesis. The action was intensified by irradiation, especially with the UVB spectrum. Demonstrated results confirmed the potential role of melanin and UV radiation minocycline-induced skin hyperpigmentation.

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Comparison of Phenols Content and Antioxidant Activity of Fruits from Different Maturity Stages of Ribes stenocarpum Maxim

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23123148 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (12) ◽

pp. 3148 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yuwei Wang ◽

Delin Qi ◽

Shulin Wang ◽

Xiaohai Cao ◽

Ying Ye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Design Method ◽

Extraction Process ◽

Coumaric Acid ◽

Solvent Concentration ◽

Box Behnken Design ◽

Maturity Stages ◽

Ripening Stages ◽

Intracellular Ros ◽

Unripe Fruits

Differences in the content of nine phenols and the antioxidant capacity of Ribes stenocarpum Maxim (RSM) fruits at different stages of maturity were investigated, and the extraction process of polyphenols from RSM was also optimized using Box-Behnken design method. Results showed that the content of the nine phenols varied considerably at different ripening stages; catechin, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were abundant in immature fruits but decreased with fruit ripening, whereas the levels of rosemary acid and querctin acid were low in immature fruits and increased with time, reaching the highest value after the fruit was completely mature. The phenols extracted from RSM fruits possessed good antioxidant activities for effective and rapid scavenging of DPPH and ABTS free radicals, as well as intracellular ROS. Analysis of the phenols content at different maturity stages indicated that the unripe fruits had significantly higher polyphenols content than mature fruits. Consequently, unripe fruits possessed higher antioxidant activities. According to the overall results of the extraction process optimization, the selected optimal conditions for extracting polyphenols from RSM were as follows: extraction time, 95 min; solvent concentration, 60%; ratio of sample to solvent, 1:25.

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