Open Access

Inhibitory effects of Stichopus japonicus extract on melanogenesis of mouse cells via ERK phosphorylation

  • Authors:
    • Chang Taek Oh
    • Tae‑Rin Kwon
    • Yu‑Jin Jang
    • Kwang Ho Yoo
    • Beom Joon Kim
    • Heesu Kim
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 6, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6686
  • Pages: 1079-1086
  • Copyright: © Oh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Stichopus japonicus has been used as a folk medicine and as an ingredient in traditional food in East Asian countries. In recent years, the bioactive compounds found in S. japonicus have been reported to possess efficacy in wound healing and may be of potential use in the cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Although the components and their functions require further investigation, S. japonicus extracts exhibit anti‑inflammatory properties, and may be used for cancer prevention and treatment. Although several reports have examined different aspects of S. japo­nicus, the effects of S. japonicus extract on melanogenesis in the skin has not been reported to date. Therefore the present study aimed to investigate the effects of S. japonicus extract on melanogenesis. Treatment with a mixture of S. japonicus extracts (MSCE) reduced melanin synthesis and tyrosinase (TYR) activity in mouse melanocyte cells lines, B16F10 and Melan‑A. In addition, MSCE treatment reduced the protein expression levels of TYR, tyrosinase‑related protein‑1 and tyrosinase‑related protein‑2. The reduced protein levels may be the result of decreased microphthalmia‑associated transcription factor (MITF) expression, which is an important regulator of melanogenesis. The reduced expression level of MITF was associated with delayed phosphorylation of extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) induced by MSCE treatment. A specific MEK inhibitor, PD98059, significantly blocked MSCE‑mediated inhibition of melanin synthesis. In conclusion, these results indicate that MSCE may be useful as a potential skin‑whitening compound in the skin medical industry.
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August-2017
Volume 16 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Oh CT, Kwon TR, Jang YJ, Yoo KH, Kim BJ and Kim H: Inhibitory effects of Stichopus japonicus extract on melanogenesis of mouse cells via ERK phosphorylation. Mol Med Rep 16: 1079-1086, 2017
APA
Oh, C.T., Kwon, T., Jang, Y., Yoo, K.H., Kim, B.J., & Kim, H. (2017). Inhibitory effects of Stichopus japonicus extract on melanogenesis of mouse cells via ERK phosphorylation. Molecular Medicine Reports, 16, 1079-1086. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6686
MLA
Oh, C. T., Kwon, T., Jang, Y., Yoo, K. H., Kim, B. J., Kim, H."Inhibitory effects of Stichopus japonicus extract on melanogenesis of mouse cells via ERK phosphorylation". Molecular Medicine Reports 16.2 (2017): 1079-1086.
Chicago
Oh, C. T., Kwon, T., Jang, Y., Yoo, K. H., Kim, B. J., Kim, H."Inhibitory effects of Stichopus japonicus extract on melanogenesis of mouse cells via ERK phosphorylation". Molecular Medicine Reports 16, no. 2 (2017): 1079-1086. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6686