Natural Melanogenesis Stimulator a Potential Tool for the Treatment of Hypopigmentation Disease

Abstract

The synthesis of melanin pigments or melanogenesis has many important physiological functions that include photo protection of the human skin from ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Melanogenesis is a complex pathway involving melanin synthesis, melanin transport, and melanosome release. Melanin synthesis is stimulated by various effects such as α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH); cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevating agents including palmitic acid, methyl ester, psoralen, thymoquinone, piperine, berberine and withaferin-A. Loss of the hair shaft melanin is associated with decrease of tyrosinase activity in the bulb of melanocytes. Activators of tyrosinase with stimulatory effects on melanogenesis are beneficial for the treatment of hypopigmentation diseases. This is only report authors found in literature about tyrosinase activation. Melanogenesis stimulator are rarely studied as most industries are more interested on inhibitors of the enzyme in order to reduce the adverse effects of melanin formation in, for example, processed food and human skin. Hence, there is a need to review the successful utilization of tyrosinase stimulators from natural herbs for medicinal applications.

Promelanogenic Effects by an Annurca Apple-Based Natural Formulation in Human Primary Melanocytes

“… 39 , 40 Several recognized melanin activators are of synthetic derivation, but many others originate from natural molecules, with plant kingdom as the main resource of compounds endowed with favourable bioactivities. 19 , 20 In this framework, the number of molecules effectively acting as melanogenesis stimulators is increasing but still limited. 23 , 30 Contrariwise, several downregulators of melanogenesis endowed with a skin whitening/depigmenting action have been so far developed to treat hyperpigmentation disorders (eg, melasma and age spots).…”

“…According to our findings, some investigations have shown promelanogenic effect by molecules with polyphenolic structures. 19 , 20 Indeed, some flavonoids from natural sources (eg, extracts of Salvia officinalis L.) can significantly increase melanin content, and further comprehensive studies revealed these natural compounds as capable of inducing expression and activity of the major melanogenetic proteins. 20 , 23 As a downside, other polyphenols including flavonoids or stilbenoids, have shown to affect tyrosinase expression/activity.…”

“…15,18 Just in recent years, melanin stimulators from natural and synthetic sources -to be hypothetically developed as skin pigmentation agents -have been the subject of intense investigations. [19][20][21] Cosmetic tan stimulators with different mechanisms of action are already available to the market and widely used, but they give rise to subjective darkening complexion effects and not always they are fully examined products. Various side-effects have been in fact ascribed to these active cosmetic ingredients.…”

Steam Distillate of Murraya Koenigii as a Tyrosinase Activator

“…Plant constituent traditionally used to treat this skin disease. As world wide number of patients is increasing its important to come with better and safe alternatives 19 .…”