Ecklonia cava is popular in Korea as a marine functional materials. E. cava is generally collected and used on the coast of Jeju Island. However, the continuous use of collected natural E. cava may be limited because difficult to secure throughout the...
Ecklonia cava is popular in Korea as a marine functional materials. E. cava is generally collected and used on the coast of Jeju Island. However, the continuous use of collected natural E. cava may be limited because difficult to secure throughout the year and may be exposed to environmental pollution. Jeju magma seawater (MSW) was known to be significant advantages such as safety, cleanness, stability, and functional improvement. Attempts have been reported on application of magma seawater to the culturing of macro-and micro algae and showed improved results. Thus, the objective of the present study was to explore the anti-melanogenesis activity of brown seaweed E. cava (MSWE) extract cultured in tanks with magma seawater of Jeju Island to evaluate the possibility of functional cosmetic industrial application. MSWE extract showed the higher polyphenolic and dieckol contents than natural E. cava (NE) extract. Anti-melanogenesis activity of MSWE extract and NE extract was compared using tyrosinase and DOPA oxidation inhibition assay. MSWE extracts evidenced more effective tyrosinase and DOPA oxidation inhibition activity than those of the NE extracts and the commercial whitening agent, arbutin. MSWE extracts also markedly inhibited melanin synthesis and decreased the expression of melanogenesis-related protein in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that MSWE extract has more bioactive whitening compounds, and thus could be more effective for industrial application.