Mechanistic Studies of Anti-Hyperpigmentary Compounds: Elucidating Their Inhibitory and Regulatory Actions

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Rosanna Y. Y. Lam¹  Zhi-Xiu Lin¹  Elena V. Sviderskaya² 

[1] School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China; E-Mails:;Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, St. George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK; E-Mail:

关键词: depigmenting agents;    hyperpigmentation;    melan-a;    4-ethylresorcinol;    4-ethylphenol;    1-tetradecanol;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms150814649

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Searching for depigmenting agents from natural sources has become a new direction in the cosmetic industry as natural products are generally perceived as relatively safer. In our previous study, selected Chinese medicines traditionally used to treat hyperpigmentation were tested for anti-hyperpigmentary effects using a melan-a cell culture model. Among the tested chemical compounds, 4-ethylresorcinol, 4-ethylphenol and 1-tetradecanol were found to possess hypopigmentary effects. Western blot analysis, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assay, protein kinase A (PKA) activity assay, tyrosinase inhibition assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay were performed to reveal the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of the hypopigmentary effects. 4-Ethylresorcinol and 4-ethylphenol attenuated mRNA and protein expression of tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-2, and possessed antioxidative effect by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. 1-Tetradecanol was able to attenuate protein expression of tyrosinase. The hypopigmentary actions of 4-ethylresorcinol, 4-ethylphenol and 1-tetradecanol were associated with regulating downstream proteins along the PKA pathway. 4-Ethylresorcinol was more effective in inhibiting melanin synthesis when compared to 4-ethylphenol and 1-tetradecanol.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.