Background: Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment by the action of specific enzyme tyrosinase. Melanogenesis inhibitors such as ascorbic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, hydroquinone have been developed for use in cosmetic preparations for the skin hyperpi...
Background: Melanocytes synthesize melanin pigment by the action of specific enzyme tyrosinase. Melanogenesis inhibitors such as ascorbic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, hydroquinone have been developed for use in cosmetic preparations for the skin hyperpigmentation,but they are still unsatisfactory to efficacy and tolerance. Objective: In this study, the inhibitory effects of seaweed extract(SCH-T2)on tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis were investigated with B-16 melanoma cell line. Methods: The seaweed was added with 21 organic solvents and extracted during 12 hours at 20-To evaluate the inhibitory effects of SCH-T2 on tyrosinase activity following to extraction time and temperature, this study was done at 4, 8, 12, 24, 72 hours and 4, 10, 20, 30, 40℃. Also, the effects of whitening agents (kojic acid, arbutin, licorice extracts,SCH-T2)on tyrosinase activity were compared by measuring the IC50,the concentration of the compound at which half of the original ty Results: 1.The inhibitory effects of SCH-T2 on tyrosinase activity were high at 60-80% ethanol as an extraction organic solvent and showed increase in proportion to concentration following to extract concentration, but showed little differences following to extraction time and temperature.2.SCH-T2 has relatively stronger inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity than arbutin and licorice extracts. 3. The inhibitory effects of SCH-T2 on melanogenesis following to extract concentration were greatly increased at more than 20㎍/ml. Conclusion: This study showed that SCH-T2 seaweed extract has strong inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity and melanogonesis. So, the results of this study suggest that SCH-T2 seaweed extract can be used as a new whitening agent.(Ann Dermatol 14(1)1-5, 2002).