[8]-Gingerol inhibits melanogenesis in murine melanoma cells through down-regulation of the MAPK and PKA signal pathways

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 438; no. 2; pp. 375 - 381
• Main Authors: Huang, Huey-Chun, Chou, Yin-Chun, Wu, Chia-Yin, Chang, Tsong-Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 23.08.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Catechols - pharmacology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases - metabolism; Down-Regulation; Fatty Alcohols - pharmacology; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gingerol; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases - antagonists & inhibitors; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Melanin; Melanins - biosynthesis; Melanogenesis; Melanoma - metabolism; Melanoma, Experimental; Mice; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Monophenol Monooxygenase - antagonists & inhibitors; Monophenol Monooxygenase - metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 - antagonists & inhibitors; Signal Transduction; Tyrosinase; Melanogenesis; Gingerol; Tyrosinase; Melanin
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.07.079

•[8]-Gingerol suppresses cellular tyrosinase activity and decrease melanin content.•[8]-Gingerol inhibits the expression of MC1R, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2.•[8]-Gingerol decreases intracellular RS and ROS levels in B16F10 and B16F1 cells.•[8]-Gingerol inhibits melanogenesis by down-regulation of MAPK signaling pathway.•[8]-Gingerol inhibits melanogenesis by down-regulation of PKA signaling pathway. [8]-Gingerol is an active component of Zinger and shows several pharmacological activities, such as antipyretic and anti-inflammation characteristics. To identify a potential skin-whitening agent, the inhibitory effects of [8]-gingerol on melanogenesis and its mechanism of action were investigated. In the present study, the effects of [8]-gingerol on mushroom tyrosinase, tyrosinase activity and melanin content were determined spectrophotometrically; the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins in B16F10 and B16F1 melanoma cells were determined by Western blotting. Furthermore, the possible signaling pathways involved in [8]-gingerol-mediated depigmentation were also investigated using specific inhibitors. The results revealed that [8]-gingerol (5–100μM) effectively suppressed intracellular tyrosinase activity and decreased the amount of melanin in B16F10 and B16F1 cells. In addition, [8]-gingerol also effectively decreased intracellular reactive species (RS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels at the same dose range. Our results indicated that [8]-gingerol inhibited melanogenesis in B16F10 and B16F1 cells by down-regulation of both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathways or through its antioxidant properties. Hence, [8]-gingerol could be used as an effective skin-whitening agent.