Antimelanogenesis Activity of Hydrolyzed Ginseng Extract (GINST) via Inhibition of JNK Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase in B16F10 Cells

• Published in: Journal of food science Vol. 81; no. 8; pp. H2085 - H2092
• Main Authors: Han, Joon-Seung, Sung, Jong Hwan, Lee, Seung Kwon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; antimelanogenic effect; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Biosynthesis; c-Jun N-terminal kinases; c-Jun protein; Cell Line, Tumor; Down-Regulation; Drugs; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Food safety; Ginseng; Ginsenosides; Ginsenosides - analysis; Ginsenosides - pharmacology; GINST; Herbs; hydrolyzed ginseng extract; Hyperglycemia; In vitro testing; Intracellular signalling; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; JNK protein; Kinases; Liquid chromatography; MAP kinase; Melanin; Melanins - metabolism; Mice; Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor - metabolism; Monophenol Monooxygenase - antagonists & inhibitors; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Panax - chemistry; Pharmacovigilance; Physiological effects; Physiology; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Protein kinase; Proteins; Signal transduction; Skin; Skin Lightening Preparations - pharmacology; Transcription factors; Tyrosinase; Western blotting; Korea, Rep; microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; antimelanogenic effect; hydrolyzed ginseng extract; c-Jun N-terminal kinases; GINST
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.13380

GINST is a hydrolyzed ginseng extract produced by an in vitro process that imitates the metabolic function of bacteria in the human digestive track and has approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea for the management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Additionally, GINST has been reported to have other physiological functions including anti‐aging and antioxidant effects. The objectives of this study are to compare the antimelanogenic effects of fresh ginseng extract (FGE) and GINST extract and to elucidate the functional mechanism. The concentration of total ginsenosides in FGE and GINST was measured using ultraperformance liquid chromatography with a C18 column. B16F10 cells were treated with FGE and GINST for 72 h to assess melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and protein levels of microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase‐related protein‐1 (TRP‐1). The activity of kinases involved in mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, such as extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK), c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNK), and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinases (p38), were measured using western blots. While neither FGE nor GINST inhibited the activity of mushroom tyrosinase directly, GINST decreased melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity markedly. Furthermore, our results indicate that GINST downregulated the levels of MITF and TRP‐1 possibly by suppressing JNK signaling. We concluded that, when compared to FGE, GINST has a superior antimelanogenic effect mediated by the downregulation of MITF, TRP‐1, and intracellular tyrosinase activity via the JNK signaling pathway. Thus, we suggest that GINST has the potential to be used as a novel skin whitening agent. Practical Application GINST, hydrolyzed ginseng extract, having been demonstrated the several physiological functions inhibits the melanin biosynthesis and tyrosinase activity in melanocyte via MAPK signaling. The findings of this study suggest that GINST can be used to improve skin whitening.