Inhibition of melanin production by a combination of Siberian larch and pomegranate fruit extracts

• Published in: Fitoterapia Vol. 83; no. 6; pp. 989 - 995
• Main Authors: Diwakar, Ganesh, Rana, Jatinder, Scholten, Jeffrey D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; cell viability; Down-Regulation; Drug Combinations; Drug Synergism; enzyme activity; Fruit; fruit extracts; Gene Expression - drug effects; gene expression regulation; General pharmacology; genes; Humans; Hydrolyzable Tannins - pharmacology; Larix - chemistry; Larix sibirica; MART-1 Antigen - metabolism; Medical sciences; Melan-a cells; melanin; Melanins - biosynthesis; Melanins - genetics; Melanocyte specific genes (Tyr, Pmel17); Melanocytes - drug effects; Melanocytes - metabolism; Melanoma-Specific Antigens - genetics; Melanoma-Specific Antigens - metabolism; Monophenol Monooxygenase - genetics; Monophenol Monooxygenase - metabolism; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extract; pomegranates; Punica granatum; Punicaceae - chemistry; Punicalagins; Quercetin - analogs & derivatives; Quercetin - pharmacology; Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) extract; structural proteins; Taxifolin; transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Iran; Asia; China; Taxifolin; Melan-a cells; Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extract; Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) extract; Punicalagins; Melanocyte specific genes (Tyr, Pmel17); Melanocyte; Larix sibirica; Punica granatum; Extract; Flavonoid; Medicinal plant; Polyphenol; Tannin; Gene; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Genetics; Punicaceae; Fruit tree; Fruit; Pharmacognosy; In vitro; Flavanone derivatives; Plant origin; Phenols; Coniferales; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0367-326X; 1873-6971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.06.004

In an effort to find botanicals containing polyphenolic compounds with the capacity to inhibit melanin biosynthesis, we identified a novel combination of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) extract, standardized to 80% taxifolin, and pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) extract, containing 20% punicalagins, that demonstrates a synergistic reduction of melanin biosynthesis in Melan-a cells. The combination of Siberian larch and pomegranate extracts (1:1) produced a 2-fold reduction in melanin content compared to Siberian larch or pomegranate extracts alone with no corresponding effect on cell viability. Siberian larch and pomegranate fruit extracts inhibited expression of melanocyte specific genes, tyrosinase (Tyr), microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf), and melanosome structural proteins (Pmel17 and Mart1) but did not inhibit tyrosinase enzyme activity. These results suggest that the mechanism of inhibition of melanin biosynthesis by Siberian larch and pomegranate extracts, alone and in combination, is through downregulation of melanocyte specific genes and not due to inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity. [Display omitted]