Anti-Melanogenic Activity of Calocedrus formosana Wood Essential Oil and Its Chemical Composition Analysis

Abstract

Calocedrus formosana (Cupressaceae) is one of the five precious woods of Taiwan. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic activity of C. formosana wood essential oil (CFEO) and its bioactive components in vitro. Initially, CFEO exhibited strong mushroom tyrosinase activity in the cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay system with an IC50 value of 2.72 µg/mL. Next, treatment with CFEO significantly as well as dose-dependently reduced a combination of a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and forskolin (a-MSH-FSK)-induced melanin synthesis in B16-F10 cells. Indeed, 80 mg/mL CFEO completely inhibited melanin production, which is similar to that of control cells. Further studies revealed that treatment with CFEO significantly inhibited melanogenesis regulatory proteins, including TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF, whereas tyrosinase was unaffected by either a-MSH-FSK or CFEO. In addition, the composition of the CFEO was characterized. The major components of CFEO were α-terpineol (23.47%), shonanic acid (10.45%), terpinen-4-ol (12.23%), thymol (5.3%), piperitone (3.44%), berbenone (2.81%), thujic acid (1.65%), and chaminic acid (0.13%). Among them, shonanic acid (1), thujic acid (2), and chaminic acid (3) were uncommon constitutes in essential oils, which could be the index compounds of CFEO, and the structure of these compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. Furthermore, we found that thymol is an active ingredient responsible for CFEO’s anti-melanogenic activity. Based on these results, we suggest that CFEO or thymol could be a potential candidate for the development of skin whitening products for cosmetic purposes.

Inhibition of Melanogenesis by Essential Oils from the Citrus Cultivars Peels

“…The active compound that contributed to the superior anti-melanogenesis activities of ( C. unshiu X C. sinensis ) X C. reticulata , C. reticulata , ( C. unshiu X C. sinensis ) X C. reticulata X C. reticulara was found to be terpinene-4-ol because of the presence of a hydroxyl group in the component [ 44 ]. Hsiao et al [ 20 ] evaluated the anti-melanogenesis activity of 11 single compounds including terpinen-4-ol. Among them, the melanogenesis inhibitory activity of thymol was the most superior.…”

“…Various essential oils are widely used for treating physiological dysfunctions of the skin, including hyperpigmentation, acne, skin aging, dry skin, eczema, and dermatitis [ 19 ]. Essential oils from Alpinia zerumbet , Eucalyptus camaldulensis , and Calocedrus formosana are used to alleviate excessive pigmentation conditions such as skin spots [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Citrus fruits contain compounds with anti-melanogenesis activities that are potentially suitable for use in whitening cosmetics and hyperpigmentation treatments [ 23 ].…”

Multiplicative Effects of Essential Oils and Other Active Components on Skin Tissue and Skin Cancers

“…Calocedrus formosana (C. formosana), also known as Taiwan incense cedar, belongs to the Cupressaceae family [172]. The compounds of C. formosana possess the diverse biological effects, such as anti-cancer [173], anti-oxidative [174,175], anti-inflammation [176], and antifungal [177] effects.…”

“…The compounds of C. formosana possess the diverse biological effects, such as anti-cancer [173], anti-oxidative [174,175], anti-inflammation [176], and antifungal [177] effects. The major components of C. formosana EO (CF-EO) are α-Terpineol, Terpinen-4-o1, and thymol [172]. The treatment with CF-EO inhibits melanogenesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and by reducing TRP-1 and TRP-2, co-stimulated with α-MSH and forskolin (FSK), in B16F10 melanoma [172].…”

Bioassay-guided Fractionation of Clove Buds Extract Identifies Eugenol as Potent Melanogenic Inducer in Melanoma Cells

“…Several essential oils or their components have been reported to suppress melanin synthesis, such as the essential oils of Melaleuca quinquenervia leaves and stems 16) , Alpinia zerumbet leaves 17) , Eucalyptus camaldulensis flowers 18) , Vitex negundo leaves 19) , and Cinnamomum cassia stem bark 20) . In addition, recent studies have reported that the essential oil extracted from Calocedrus formosana wood reduced melanin synthesis in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and forskolininduced in B16-F10 cells; thymol is the active ingredient responsible for this anti-melanogenic activity 21) . The essential oil of Camellia japonica seeds also exhibits anti-melanogenesis activity in α-MSHtreated B16-F10 cells 22) .…”