Chili
pepper belongs to the genus Capsicum of Solanaceae
family. Capsaicin is the primary capsaicinoid in placenta and flesh
of chili pepper fruit, which has been shown to have various pharmacological
functions, including gastric protection, anti-inflammation, and obesity
treatment. Here, we revealed that capsaicin as well as chilli extract
was able to inhibit synthesis of melanin in melanocytes. In cultured
melanocytes, the melanin content was reduced to 54 ± 6.55% and
42 ± 7.41% with p < 0.001 under treatment
of 50 μM capsaicin for 24 and 72 h, respectively. In parallel,
the protein levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1
were reduced to 62 ± 8.35% and 48 ± 8.92% with p < 0.001. Such an inhibitory effect of capsaicin was mediated
by activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1-induced
phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. This resulted
in a degradation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor,
leading to reduction of melanogenic enzymes and melanin. These results
revealed that capsaicin could be an effective inhibitor for skin melanogenesis.
Hence, chili pepper, as our daily food, has potential in dermatological
application, and capsaicin should be considered as a safe agent in
treating hyperpigmentation problems.
Background: During melanogenesis, melanocytes produce melanin through enzymatic reactions. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a major regulator in controlling the expressions of melanogenic enzymes tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosine-related protein-1 (TRP1), and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT). Self-Growth Colony (SGC) is prepared from human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) having an enrichment of growth factors, and which has claimed skin regeneration function.
Aim:In this study, we aim to identify and investigate the novel role of SGC in skin melanogenesis.Methods: MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of applied SGC.Melanin assay was adopted to quantify the intracellular melanin after SGC treatment. Promoter-driven luciferase assay, real-time PCR, and Western blotting were performed to determine the expressions of melanogenic enzymes and MITF in SGCtreated cultured Melan-A cells, being treated with or without UV induction. Ex vivo mouse skin was treated with SGC, and then was subjected to Western blotting and histochemical staining.
Results:We identified that SGC inhibited melanogenesis in cultured melanocytes and ex vivo mouse skin. The phenomena were attributed to a reduction of MITF expression, which subsequently down-regulated the melanogenic enzymes, that is, TYR, TRP1, and DCT. Moreover, ERK signaling was activated in the SGC-inhibited melanogenesis.
Conclusions:The findings suggest that SGC extracting from human blood can be a safe and potential agent in promoting skin whitening.
Capsaicin, a major ingredient in chili pepper, has broad pharmaceutical applications, including relieving pain, anti-inflammation, and treating psoriasis. In dermatological biology, capsaicin has been shown to prevent the ultraviolet (UV)-induced melanogenesis via TRPV1 receptor. To strengthen the roles of capsaicin in skin function, the damaged skin, triggered by exposure to UV, was reversed by capsaicin in both in vitro and in vivo models. In cultured dermal fibroblasts, the exposure to UV induced a decrease of collagen synthesis and increases expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and phosphorylation of Erk and c-Jun, and these events subsequently led to skin damage. However, the UV-mediated damages could be reversed by pre-treatment with capsaicin in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of capsaicin in blocking the UV-mediated collagen synthesis was mediated by reducing generation of ROS in dermal fibroblasts, instead of the receptor for capsaicin. Hence, capsaicin has high potential value in applying as an agent for anti-skin aging in dermatology.
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