Isolation and Quantification of Ginsenoside Rh23, a New Anti-Melanogenic Compound from the Leaves of Panax ginseng

Melanin resistance of heat-processed ginsenosides from Panax ginseng berry treated with citric acid through autophagy pathway

GFRS is the conversion product of Panax ginseng Meyer berry after citric acid heat treatment, which is rich in rare ginsenosides. However, the anti-melanin role of GFRS in the regulation of skin pigmentation and its material basis remains unclear. To compare the anti-melanin activity before and after citric acid heat treatment, we determined the effects of GFS and GFRS on tyrosinase activity and melanin lever under α-MSH stimulation and found the potential anti-melanin effect of GFRS. Further, Western blot and immunofluorescence methods were used to reveal the mechanism by which GFRS detects anti-melanin activity by promoting autophagy flux levels. In zebrafish models, GFRS inhibited endogenous melanin and tyrosinase better than arbutin and promoted the accumulation of autophagy levels in vivo. To determine the material basis of the anti-melanin effect of GFRS, HPLC was used to isolate and prepare 12 ginsenosides from GFRS, and their activity evaluation and structure-activity relationship analysis were performed. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of GFRS on melanin was Rg3 > Rg5 > Rk1 > Rd. Molecular docking showed that their docking fraction with mushroom tyrosinase was significantly better than that of arbutin, but the presence of C-20 glycosylation decreased the anti-melanin activity of Rd. To maximize the content of Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1, we optimized the process by using citric acid heat treatment of ginsenoside Rd and found that citric acid heat treatment at 100°C almost completely transformed Rd and obtained a high content of active ingredients. In summary, our data demonstrated that GFRS exerted anti-melanin effects by inducing autophagy. It was further revealed that Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1, as effective active components, could be enriched by the improved process of converting ginsenoside Rd by citric acid heat treatment.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antimelanogenesis Effects of Leaf Essential Oil from Agathis dammara

Agathis species are widely distributed around Southeast Asia, Australasia, South Pacific islands, and etc. Traditionally, Agathis species have been used as the folk medicines, the common ethnopharmacological uses of Agathis genus are the treatments of headache and myalgia. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition of Agathis dammara (Lamb.) Rich. leaf essential oil and to explore its antimelanogenesis effect. The chemical constituents of leaf essential oil are analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the major constituents of leaf essential oil are sesquiterpenoids. The major constituents are δ-cadinene (16.12%), followed by γ-gurjunene (15.57%), 16-kaurene (12.43%), β-caryophyllene (8.58%), germacrene D (8.53%), and γ-cadinene (5.33%). As for the in vitro antityrosinase activity, leaf essential oil inhibit the tyrosinase activity of mushroom when the substrate is 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Leaf essential oil prevents tyrosinase from acting as diphenolase and catalyzing L-DOPA to dopaquinone, and converting into dark melanin pigments. A. dammara leaf essential oil also exhibits the in vivo antimelanogenesis effect, leaf essential oil reduces 43.48% of melanin formation in zebrafish embryos at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Results reveal A. dammara leaf essential oil has the potential for developing the skin whitening drug and depigmentation ingredient for hyperpigmentary disorders.

Plants as Modulators of Melanogenesis: Role of Extracts, Pure Compounds and Patented Compositions in Therapy of Pigmentation Disorders

The kingdom of plants as a "green biofabric" of valuable bioactive molecules has long been used in many ailments. Currently, extracts and pure compounds of plant origin are used to aid in pigmentation skin problems by influencing the process of melanogenesis. Melanin is a very important pigment that protects human skin against ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress. It is produced by a complex process called melanogenesis. However, disturbances in the melanogenesis mechanism may increase or decrease the level of melanin and generate essential skin problems, such as hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Accordingly, inhibitors or activators of pigment formation are desirable for medical and cosmetic industry. Such properties may be exhibited by molecules of plant origin. Therefore, that literature review presents reports on plant extracts, pure compounds and compositions that may modulate melanin production in living organisms. The potential of plants in the therapy of pigmentation disorders has been highlighted.

Recent Advances in Herbal-Derived Products with Skin Anti-Aging Properties and Cosmetic Applications

Although aesthetic benefits are a desirable effect of the treatment of skin aging, it is also important in controlling several skin diseases, mainly in aged people. The development of new dermocosmetics has rapidly increased due to consumers' demand for non-invasive products with lower adverse effects than those currently available on the market. Natural compounds of plant origin and herbal-derived formulations have been popularized due to their various safe active products, which act through different mechanisms of action on several signaling pathways for skin aging. Based on this, the aim of the review was to identify the recent advances in herbal-derived product research, including herbal formulations and isolated compounds with skin anti-aging properties. The studies evaluated the biological effects of herbal-derived products in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies, highlighting the effects that were reported in clinical trials with available pharmacodynamics data that support their protective effects to treat, prevent, or control human skin aging. Thus, it was possible to identify that gallic and ferulic acids and herbal formulations containing Thymus vulgaris, Panax ginseng, Triticum aestivum, or Andrographis paniculata are the most promising natural products for the development of new dermocosmetics with skin anti-aging properties.

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis

Covering: 2011 to the end of 2020Panax species (Araliaceae), particularly P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng, have a long history of medicinal use because of their remarkable tonifying effects, and currently serve as crucial sources for various healthcare products, functional foods, and cosmetics, aside from their vast clinical preparations. The huge market demand on a global scale prompts the continuous prosperity in ginseng research concerning the discovery of new compounds, precise quality control, ADME (absorption/disposition/metabolism/excretion), and biosynthesis pathways. Benefitting from the ongoing rapid development of analytical technologies, e.g. multi-dimensional chromatography (MDC), personalized mass spectrometry (MS) scan strategies, and multi-omics, highly recognized progress has been made in driving ginseng analysis towards "systematicness, integrity, personalization, and intelligentization". Herein, we review the advances in the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis pathway of ginseng over the past decade (2011-2020), with 410 citations. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of new compounds isolated (saponins and polysaccharides), and the emerging novel analytical technologies and analytical strategies that favor ginseng's authentic use and global consumption. Perspectives on the challenges and future trends in ginseng analysis are also presented.

Anti-melanogenic property of ginsenoside Rf from Panax ginseng via inhibition of CREB/MITF pathway in melanocytes and ex vivo human skin

Background

Ginsenosides of Panax ginseng are used to enhance skin health and beauty. The present study aimed to investigate the potential use of ginsenoside Rf (Rf) from Panax ginseng as a new anti-pigmentation agent.

Methods

The anti-melanogenic effects of Rf were explored. The transcriptional activity of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and tyrosinase-related proteins (Tyrps) were evaluated in melanocytes and UV-irradiated ex vivo human skin.

Results

Rf significantly inhibited Forskolin (FSK) or UV-stimulated melanogenesis. Consistently, cellular tyrosinase activity and levels of MITF, tyrosinase, and Tyrps were downregulated. Furthermore, Rf suppressed MITF promoter activity, which was stimulated by FSK or CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) overexpression. Increased CREB phosphorylation and protein kinase A (PKA) activity induced by FSK were also mitigated in the presence of Rf.

Conclusion

Rf can be used as a reliable anti-pigmentation agent, which has a scientifically confirmed and reproducible action mechanism, via inhibition of CREB/MITF pathway.

Immunoregulatory mechanism studies of ginseng leaves on lung cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Panax ginseng is one of the oldest and most generally prescribed herbs in Eastern traditional medicine to treat diseases. Several studies had documented that ginseng leaves have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties similar to those of ginseng root. The aim of this research was to forecast of the molecular mechanism of ginseng leaves on lung cancer by molecular docking and network pharmacology so as to decipher ginseng leaves' entire mechanism. The compounds associated with ginseng leaves were searched by TCMSP. TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction databases were used to sort out the potential targets of the main chemical components. Targets were collected from OMIM, PharmGKB, TTD, DrugBank and GeneCards which related to immunity and lung cancer. Ginseng leaves exert its lung cancer suppressive function by regulating the several signaling proteins, such as JUN, STAT3, AKT1, TNF, MAPK1, TP53. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the immunoreaction against lung cancer by ginseng leaves might be related to response to lipopolysaccharide, response to oxidative stress, PI3K-Akt, MAPK and TNF pathway. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that hydrogen bonding was interaction's core forms. The results of CCK8 test and qRT-PCR showed that ginseng leaves inhibit cell proliferation and regulates AKT1 and P53 expression in A549. The present study clarifies the mechanism of Ginseng leaves against lung cancer and provides evidence to support its clinical use.

Bibliometric analysis of the effects of ginseng on skin

OBJECTIVE

Ginseng is widely used in cosmetics and skin care. The progress of research on the effect of ginseng on the skin was explored through a summary and analysis of skin-related studies on ginseng conducted over in the past 20 years, and this exploration aimed to elucidate new research opportunities with regard to the development and application of ginseng treatments for the skin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Keywords were used to retrieve human studies related to the use of ginseng to treat skin conditions from the Web of Science. Scientometric analyses were performed in R to analyze the studies on the human skin-related effects of ginseng conducted from 2000 to 2019.

RESULTS

The main active ingredient in ginseng is ginsenoside, and its effects on the skin are mostly anti-aging and whitening. Ginseng extract regulates the levels of matrix metalloproteinases in human fibroblast type I collagen to improve the elasticity and water content of skin. In addition, ginseng inhibits the transcription factors or signaling pathways involved in the formation of melanin, it exerts a whitening effect. The authors of the retrieved studies are mostly located in Asia, mainly South Korea and China. Wang Y, Kim JH, and Kim YJ are relatively influential scholars, these ginseng-related articles published in the Journal of Ginseng Research, Molecules and other journals are very important in this field.

CONCLUSION

This study shows the development of trends in research on ginseng as a raw cosmetic material used on the skin and thus enables researchers to rapidly understand the key information in the field of ginseng research, comprehend the research directions, and improve their research efficiency.

Antimelanogenesis Effects of Leaf Extract and Phytochemicals from Ceylon Olive (Elaeocarpus serratus) in Zebrafish Model

The melanogenesis inhibition effect in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and antityrosinase activity of the ethanolic extract and its phytochemicals from Ceylon olive (Elaeocarpus serratus Linn.) leaves were investigated in this study. Among the leaf extract and four soluble fractions, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction exhibits the best antityrosinase and antimelanogenesis activities. One phenolic acid, gallic acid, and two flavonoids, myricetin and mearnsetin, are isolated from the active subfractions through the bioassay-guided isolation; their structures are elucidated based on the 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic analyses. These compounds have significant antityrosinase activity whether using l-tyrosine or l-DOPA as the substrate; mearnsetin shows the optimal activity. In the enzyme kinetic investigation, both gallic acid and mearnsetin are the competitive-type inhibitors against mushroom tyrosinase, and myricetin acts as a mixed-type tyrosinase inhibitor. Leaf extract and an ethyl acetate soluble fraction show effective performance in the inhibition of melanin formation in zebrafish embryos. Mearnsetin also possesses a promising antimelanogenesis effect, which is superior to the positive control, arbutin. Results reveal that the Ceylon olive leaf extract and its phytochemicals, especially mearnsetin, have the potential to be used as antimelanogenesis and skin-whitening ingredients.

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Whitening

Melanin is the chief pigment responsible for the pigmentation of human skin. Increasing evidence indicates that traditional Chinese drugs with skin-whitening effects are attracting the attention of consumers and researchers because they are perceived to be milder, safer, and healthier than synthetic alternatives. This commentary summarizes the current research on Chinese herbal medicines that inhibit melanin and their biological activities. The findings presented in this study suggest that these traditional Chinese herbal medicines might be potential candidates for novel skin-whitening agents.

Unraveling the molecular mechanisms and the potential chemopreventive/therapeutic properties of natural compounds in melanoma

Melanoma is the most fatal form of skin cancer. Current therapeutic approaches include surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. However, these treatment strategies are associated with development of drug resistance and severe side effects. In recent years, natural compounds have also been extensively studied for their anti-melanoma effects, including tumor growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, angiogenesis and metastasis suppression and cancer stem cell elimination. Moreover, a considerable number of studies reported the synergistic activity of phytochemicals and standard anti-melanoma agents, as well as the enhanced effectiveness of their synthetic derivatives and novel formulations. However, clinical data confirming these promising effects in patients are still scanty. This review emphasizes the anti-tumor mechanisms and potential application of the most studied natural products for melanoma prevention and treatment.

Six new dammarane-type triterpene saponins from Panax ginseng flower buds and their cytotoxicity

Background

Panax ginseng has been used for a variety of medical purposes in eastern countries for more than two thousand years. From the extensive experiences accumulated in its long medication use history and the substantial strong evidence in modern research studies, we know that ginseng has various pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardiovascular system–protective effects. The active chemical constituents of ginseng, ginsenosides, are rich in structural diversity and exhibit a wide range of biological activities.

Methods

Ginsenoside constituents from P. ginseng flower buds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the reported data. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazolium bromide method was used to test their cytotoxic effects on three human cancer cell lines.

Results

Six ginsenosides, namely 6'–malonyl formyl ginsenoside F₁ (1), 3β–acetoxyl ginsenoside F₁ (2), ginsenoside Rh₂₄ (6), ginsenoside Rh₂₅ (7), 7β–hydroxyl ginsenoside Rd (8) and ginsenoside Rh₂₆ (10) were isolated and elucidated as new compounds, together with four known compounds (3–5 and 9). In addition, the cytotoxicity of these isolated compounds was shown as half inhibitory concentration values, a tentative structure–activity relationship was also discussed based on the results of our bioassay.

Conclusion

The study of chemical constituents was useful for the quality control of P. ginseng flower buds. The study on antitumor activities showed that new Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against HL-60, MGC80-3 and Hep-G2 with half inhibitory concentration values of 16.74, 29.51 and 20.48 μM, respectively.

Antihypertensive Effect of Ethanolic Extract from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Fruits and Quality Control of Active Compounds

Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Seem., which belongs to the Araliaceae family, mainly inhabits Korea, China, and Japan. Traditionally, Acanthopanax species have been used as treatment for several diseases such as diabetes, tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis. Especially, its fruits have many biological functions including antitumor, immunostimulating, antithrombosis, and antiplatelet activities. Recently, the extract of A. sessiliflorus fruit has been reported to have antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities related to the alleviation of hypertension. Therefore, we investigated the antihypertensive effect of ethanolic extract from A. sessiliflorus fruits (DHP1501) through in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro studies. In this study, DHP1501 demonstrated free radical scavenging capacity, enhanced endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production, and inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), resulting in the improvement of vascular relaxation and decrease in blood pressure in the hypertensive animal model. These results suggest that A. sessiliflorus fruit extract may be a promising functional material for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the utility of MS-based active compounds for the quality control of DHP1501.