Effect of Tunisian Capparis spinosa L. extract on melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells

Abstract

The effect of Tunisian Capparis spinosa L. aromatic plant extract on melanogenesis regulation in B16 murine melanoma cells was investigated. B16 cells were treated with 0.0005, 0.005, and 0.05% (w/v) C. spinosa extract after which the melanin content and cell viability were measured. To clarify the mechanism behind melanogenesis regulation, the expression of tyrosinase was determined. Results showed that the extract had a significant stimulative effect on melanogenesis in B16 cells in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Western blot analysis showed that expression of tyrosinase in cells treated with 0.03% (w/v) C. spinosa extract increased by 12.5- and 20-fold after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively, compared with untreated cells. HPLC analysis of the extract revealed the presence of 1% quercetin, a known melanogenesis stimulator, indicating that our findings may be attributed to quercetin; however, other compounds present in the extract may also have an effect on the overall ability of the extract to stimulate melanogenesis. We report here that Tunisian C. spinosa leaf extract can stimulate melanogenesis in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity by increasing tyrosinase protein expression and has the potential to be used as a possible tanning agent or as a treatment for hair depigmentation.

Phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Capparis spinosa

“…For example, the methanol extract of C. spinosa showed a noteworthy antioxidant/free radical scavenging effectiveness in various models (Germanò et al 2002;Bonina et al 2002) and has been suggested as treatment to oxidative stress pathological conditions (Cao et al 2010). Previous studies on the chemical composition of different extracts from C. spinosa have reported the presence of numerous beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and vitamins, known for their antioxidant properties (Matsuyama et al 2009). The purpose of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the hydro-ethanolic extract from the plant leaves and to evaluate its antioxidant properties.…”

Effectiveness of the Capparis spinosa Treatment in Vitiligo

“…(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) Capparis spinosa Batı ve Orta Asya ile Akdeniz havzasında yetişen zorlu çevre koşullarına karşı güçlü bir direnç gösteren eski zamanlarda gıdalarda tatlandırıcı, hipertansiyonda diüre-tik olarak kullanılmış bir bitkidir. Tunus'ta bahar ayından yaz sonuna kadar yabani olarak yetişir (11). Biyolojik çalışmalar önemli antimikrobiyal, antioksidan, anti-inflamatuar ve antiviral özellikleri olduğunu göstermiştir.…”

“…Capparis spinosa'nın kimyasal bileşimi ile ilgili çalışmalarda alkaloidler, lipidler, polifenoller, flavonoidler ve glukosinolatlar varlığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca, C. spinosa kamferol, rutin, quercetin ve quercetin türevleri gibi flavonoidler açısından zengin olduğu bildirilmiştir (11). Quercetin ile ilgili çalışmalarda ise tirozinaz aktivitesini ve insan melanositlerinde melanogenezi arttırarak doğal ve güçlü bir melanogenezis indükleyicisi olabileceği gösterilmiştir (13).…”

Pharmacological Properties of Capparis spinosa Linn

“…Moreover the ethanolic extract of C. spinosa has been demonstrated to protect against apoptosis and cell death induced by oxygenic water H 2 O 2 in normal and systemic sclerosis fibroblasts and reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts [25]. Furthermore C. spinosa extract has been shown to stimulate melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells, and the increase in the melanin was accompanied by an upregulated expression of tyrosinase [26]. In another study, the genotoxic and antimutagenic effects of caper flower buds aqueous extract on the Allium cepa L root tip meristem cells have been demonstrated [27].…”