Effects of sesquiterpene lactones on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells.

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Calea urticifolia and Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) on melanogenesis in mouse B16 melanoma cells. In response to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthin (IBMX), B16 melanoma cells underwent differentiation characterized by increased melanin biosynthesis. Treatment of sesquiterpene lactones at lower concentration (1 microM) significantly blocked IBMX-induced melanogenesis, but did not induce the inhibitory activity of cell growth. Among them, 2,3-epoxyjuanislamin exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis. Treatment of B16 cells with 2,3-epoxyjuanislamin elicited significant decreases in tyrosinase protein and mRNA levels. These results demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of sesquiterpene lactones on melanin biosynthesis may be due to the suppression of tyrosinase expression.

• Authors: Kenji Ohguchi, Masaaki Ito, Kouji Yokoyama, Munekazu Iinuma, Tomohiro Itoh, Yoshinori Nozawa, Yukihiro Akao
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 308-10 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 19182396 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Lactones
• Melanins
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
• Plant Extracts
• Sesquiterpenes
• Monophenol Monooxygenase
• 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine

Topics

• 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Asteraceae (chemistry)
• Blotting, Western
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Lactones (pharmacology)
• Melanins (biosynthesis)
• Melanoma, Experimental (metabolism)
• Mice
• Monophenol Monooxygenase (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Plant Leaves (chemistry)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sesquiterpenes (pharmacology)
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Tanacetum (chemistry)