Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Takifugu flavidus Muscle Hydrolysate in B16F10 Melanoma Cells and Zebrafish

Abnormal melanogenesis can lead to hyperpigmentation. Tyrosinase (TYR), a key rate-limiting enzyme in melanin production, is an important therapeutic target for these disorders. We investigated the TYR inhibitory activity of hydrolysates extracted from the muscle tissue of Takifugu flavidus (TFMH). We used computer-aided virtual screening to identify a novel peptide that potently inhibited melanin synthesis, simulated its binding mode to TYR, and evaluated functional efficacy in vitro and in vivo. TFMH inhibited the diphenolase activities of mTYR, reducing TYR substrate binding activity and effectively inhibiting melanin synthesis. TFMH indirectly reduced cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation in vitro by downregulating melanocortin 1 receptor expression, thereby inhibiting expression of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, further decreasing TYR, tyrosinase related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase expression and ultimately impeding melanin synthesis. In zebrafish, TFMH significantly reduced black spot formation. TFMH (200 μg/mL) decreased zebrafish TYR activity by 43% and melanin content by 52%. Molecular dynamics simulations over 100 ns revealed that the FGFRSP (T-6) peptide stably binds mushroom TYR via hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions. T-6 (400 μmol/L) reduced melanin content in B16F10 melanoma cells by 71% and TYR activity by 79%. In zebrafish, T-6 (200 μmol/L) inhibited melanin production by 64%. TFMH and T-6 exhibit good potential for the development of natural skin-whitening cosmetic products.

Pd-Catalysed Direct Arylation of Distyrylbenzene: Strong Dual-state Fluorescence and Electrochromism

Distyrylbenzenes (DSBs) are well-known for their strong multicolour fluorescence. Fluorescence tuning of DSB via further functionalization/arylation, on the other hand, is uncommon. This paper reports a Pd-catalysed direct arylation approach for introducing different aryl groups onto fluorobenzene-containing DSB moiety (7) in high yields (67-72 %). The versatile methodology allows the substitution of neutral [tolyl (1)], electron-deficient [p-formyl benzene (2), p-acetyl benzene (3), p-nitrobenzene (4)] and electron-rich [carbazole (5), triphenylamine (6)] aryl groups. The electron-deficient aryls render mono-substitution, while the electron-rich counterparts promote di-substitution. The compounds (1-6) show blue, green, and yellow fluorescence in both the solution and solid states; the fluorescence quantum yields reach >98 % and the peak maxima span from 425 to 560 nm. The mono-carbazole DSB (5) exhibit white light emission (WLM) in polar solvents (acetone, DMF, CH3CN, DMSO and NMP) with very high fluorescence quantum yields (φf) of 60-80 %. For WLM, such high efficiency (φf) is somewhat uncommon. Moreover, visible-to-NIR reversible electrochromism is demonstrated by the TPA-integrated DSB (6). The colour of 6 changes from pristine light yellow to orange, and the absorption maxima shifts from 372 to 1500 nm when a positive potential of 1.0 V vs Ag/Ag+ is applied. Moreover, the system shows high colouration efficiency in the NIR region with fast switching speeds for colouration and decolouration as fast as 0.98 s and 1.05 s.

The proposed structures of phenolic compounds isolated from Piper betle L. differ from those of the compounds obtained by total synthesis

We describe the syntheses of phenolic compounds, 4-[(1E, 3E, 5E)-6-(4-octyloxyphenyl)hexa-1,3,5-trien-1-yl]benzene-1,2-diol (1) and 3-(n-dodecyloxy) phenol (2), isolated from Piper betle. The triene moiety of 4-[(1E, 3E, 5E)-6-(4-octyloxyphenyl)hexa-1,3,5-trien-1-yl]benzene-1,2-diol was formed via two different methods, the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and the McMurry coupling reaction. The spectral data of synthesized compounds show differences with those of reported as the naturally occurring compounds.

Novel (1E,3E,5E)-1,6-bis(Substituted phenyl)hexa-1,3,5-triene Analogs Inhibit Melanogenesis in B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish

The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-melanogenic activity of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and its derivatives in B16F10 murine melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Twenty five (1E,3E,5E)-1,6-bis(substituted phenyl)hexa-1,3,5-triene analogs were synthesized and their non-cytotoxic effects were predictively analyzed using three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship approach. Inhibitory activities of these synthetic compounds against melanin synthesis were determined by evaluating melanin content and melanogenic regulatory enzyme expression in B16F10 cells. The anti-melanogenic activity was verified by observing body pigmentation in zebrafishes treated with these compounds. Compound #2, #4, and #6 effectively decreased melanogenesis induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. In particular, compound #2 remarkably lowered the mRNA and protein expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and TYRP2 in B16F10 cells and substantially reduced skin pigmentation in the developed larvae of zebrafish. These findings suggest that compound #2 may be used as an anti-melanogenic agent for cosmetic purpose.

Design and discovery of mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors and their therapeutic applications

INTRODUCTION

Tyrosinase inhibitors could have a huge importance in medicine, cosmetics and agriculture. Although many tyrosinase inhibitors are available, they have demonstrated only mild efficacy and safety concerns. This has led to the discovery of novel tyrosinase inhibitors that are more safe, potent and efficacious.

AREAS COVERED

The authors provide an overview of the recent scientific accounts describing the design of new molecules. These compounds belong to different chemical families. The review emphasizes the rationale behind the discovery, the study of structure-activity relationships, the study of the mechanism and kinetic of inhibition and the cellular effect of the inhibitors. The article is based on the literature published from 2007 onward related with the development of synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors.

EXPERT OPINION

Although a great number of tyrosinase inhibitors have been published in the literature, none, as of yet, have reached the potency and safety requirements needed to enter clinical trials. The emergence of new in vitro and in vivo tests will finally allow the arrival of new compounds that are more potent and safe.