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Hypopigmentary Effects of Ethyl P ‐Methoxycinnamate Isolated from Kaempferia galanga
Author(s) -
Ko HyunJu,
Kim Hae Jong,
Kim Su Yeon,
Yun HyeYoung,
Baek Kwang Jin,
Kwon Nyoun Soo,
Choi HyeRyung,
Park KyoungChan,
Kim DongSeok
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.4995
Subject(s) - tyrosinase , chemistry , chloroform , melanin , western blot , biochemistry , enzyme , chromatography , gene
We isolated crystals from the chloroform fraction of an ethanol extract of Kaempferia galanga and identified it as ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. In the present study, we found that ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate significantly decreased melanin synthesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells stimulated with α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH). In a cell‐free system, however, ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate did not directly inhibit tyrosinase, the rate‐limiting enzyme of melanogenesis. Instead, it inhibited tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate decreased microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor and tyrosinase levels in α‐MSH‐stimulated B16F10 cells. These results indicate that the pigment‐inhibitory effect of ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate results from downregulation of tyrosinase. Ethyl p ‐methoxycinnamate isolated from K. galanga could be developed as a skin whitening agent to treat hyperpigmentary disorders. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.