Anti-Melanogenesis Effect of Polysaccharide from Saussurea involucrata on Forskolin-Induced Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

Protective effects of degraded Bletilla striata polysaccharides against UVB-induced oxidative stress in skin

The Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSP) extracted through alkali-assisted method exhibit significant antioxidant activity, but its bioaccessibility was inadequate due to its tightly filamentous reticulation structure and high molecular weight. The anti-photoaging and anti-melanogenesis effects of degraded BSP (DBSPs) against UVB-induced oxidative stress on the skin were investigated. The molecular weights of the DBSPs were reduced to 153.94 kDa, 66.96 kDa, and 15.54 kDa from an initial value of 298.82 kDa. The degradation treatment altered the branched chain structure of the DBSPs, while the backbone structure, triple-helix structure, and crystallinity remained. DBSPs with a lower molecular weight exhibit better in vitro antioxidant activity. DBSPs did not show cytotoxicity to HSF cells but inhibited B16F10 cell proliferation. The addition of DBSPs protected HSF and B16F10 cells from oxidative stress and reduced ROS levels, B16F10 melanin content, and B16F10 tyrosinase activity after UVB damage, but DBSP-10 particles were slightly less effective due to aggregation. In contrast, DBSP-5 demonstrated effectiveness in reducing MDA levels in cells stressed by oxidative stress, increased total antioxidant capacity, and inhibited melanogenesis in B16F10, suggesting that DBSP-5 has potential as a topical therapeutic agent for the treatment of skin diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Current and potential future biological uses of Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch: A comprehensive review

Background

Saussurea costus (S. costus) is a critically endangered medicinal plant that has been extensively studied for its chemical composition, significance, and therapeutic potential as traditional phytomedicine. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough understanding of S. costus, including its biological activities, chemical makeup, and potential therapeutic uses in biotechnology.

Objectives

This study investigated the pharmacological properties of S. costus, including its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties, and its usefulness in treating conditions such as thyroid disorders and liver injury. This study also aimed to assess and improve the techniques used to extract bioactive compounds and to develop effective methods for harvesting these compounds from medicinal plants.

Methods

This review analyzed the available literature on the phytochemical makeup and bioactivity of S. costus extract using techniques such as molecular docking against SARS-CoV-2 protease, green extraction methods, and phytochemical analysis.

Results

This review revealed that S. costus possesses various pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. It is effective in combating fungal infections, reducing inflammation, treating cancer, and inhibiting viral replication, and has the potential to control Candida species. Moreover, S. costus has been explored for its capacity to synthesize nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties and for its potential in treating thyroid disorders and liver injury.

Recommendations

Despite promising results, additional research is necessary to fully comprehend the benefits of S. costus and validate its effectiveness in clinical settings. Future research should focus on standardized methodologies and rigorous clinical trials to confirm the safety and effectiveness of S. costus in various medical fields as well as further investigate its biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.

Skin healthcare protection with antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activity of polysaccharide purification from Bletilla striata

In this study, we investigated the structural characterization and biological activities of Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSPs) for their role as antioxidants and anti-melanogenesis agents in skin healthcare protection. Three neutral polysaccharides (BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3) with molecular weights of 269.121 kDa, 57.389 kDa, and 28.153 kDa were extracted and purified. Their structural characteristics were analyzed by ion chromatography, GC-MS, and 1D/2D NMR. The results showed that BSP-1, which constitutes the major part of BSPs, was composed of α-D-Glcp, β-D-Glcp, β-D-Manp, and 2-O-acetyl-β-D-Manp, with the branched-chain accompanied by β-D-Galp and α-D-Glcp. BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3 can enhance the total antioxidant capacity of skin fibroblasts with non-toxicity. Meanwhile, BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3 could significantly inhibit the proliferative activity of melanoma cells. Among them, BSP-1 and BSP-2 showed more significance in anti-melanogenesis, tyrosinase inhibition activity, and cell migration inhibition. BSPs have effective antioxidant capacity and anti-melanogenesis effects, which should be further emphasized and developed as skin protection components.

Experimental and theoretical studies on inhibition against tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis by antioxidant ergothioneine

Ergothioneine, a natural derivative of histidine with a thiol/thine tautomeric structure, exhibits exceptional antioxidant properties and inhibition activities on tyrosinase. In this study, enzyme kinetics experiments and chromatographic spectral analysis revealed that ergothioneine inhibited tyrosinase in a reversible and non-competitive manner, with an inhibition constant of 0.554 mg/mL (2.41 mM). As the concentration of ergothioneine increased, the extremely flexible loop structure of tyrosinase extended from 40.1 % to 41.0 %, effectively covering the active center or binding site. Theoretical molecular docking simulation results show that ergothioneine forms complexes with tyrosinase through hydrogen bonding and salt bridges in the active center of Cu ions. Additionally, it was observed that ergothioneine's antioxidant had a stronger reducing impact on dopaquinone, an intermediate in melanin production, than the effect of ascorbic acid at an equivalent concentration (0.5 mg/mL). Ergothioneine reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species to lower levels than the control group without UVA radiation and regulated the proliferation and differentiation in B16-F10 melanocytes. Clinical trials have shown that a 0.1 % concentration of ergothioneine can effectively suppress melanin production in irradiated skin. The significant reduction in melanin index and an increase in the individual type angle (ITA°) degree were measured after 4 weeks. These results collectively suggest that ergothioneine may be a promising inhibitor of natural antioxidant tyrosinase. Furthermore, due to its safety and efficacy, ergothioneine could be considered one of the bioactive substances for further study on diseases related to melanin production and tyrosinase activity which is of great significance for the cosmetics, medicine and food industries.

Immunomodulatory Activity of Polysaccharides Isolated from Saussurea salicifolia L. and Saussurea frolovii Ledeb

The genus Saussurea has been used in the preparation of therapies for a number of medical problems, yet not much is known about the therapeutic high-molecular-weight compounds present in extracts from these plants. Since polysaccharides are important in immune modulation, we investigated the chemical composition and immunomodulatory activity of Saussurea salicifolia L. and Saussurea frolovii Ledeb polysaccharides. Water-soluble polysaccharides from the aerial parts of these plants were extracted using water at pHs of 2 and 6 and subsequently precipitated in ethanol to obtain fractions SSP2 and SSP6 from S. salicifolia and fractions SSF2 and SSF6 from S. frolovii. The molecular weights of fractions SSP2, SSP6, SFP2, and SFP6 were estimated to be 143.7, 113.2, 75.3, and 64.3 kDa, respectively. The polysaccharides from S. frolovii contained xylose (67.1-71.7%) and glucose (28.3-32.9%), whereas the polysaccharides from S. frolovii contained xylose (63.1-76.7%), glucose (11.8-19.2%), galactose (4.7-8.3%), and rhamnose (6.8-9.4%). Fractions SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophages, and NO production induced by SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 was not inhibited by polymyxin B treatment of the fractions, whereaspolymyxin B treatment diminished the effects of SFP6, suggesting that SFP6 could contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The LPS-free fractions SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 had potent immunomodulatory activity, induced NO production, and activated transcription factors NF-κB/AP-1 in human monocytic THP-1 cells and cytokine production by human MonoMac-6 monocytic cells, including interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-γ, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These data suggest that at least part of the beneficial therapeutic effects reported for water extracts of the Saussurea species are due to the modulation of leukocyte functions by polysaccharides.

Evaluation of anti-oxidant and antimelanogenic effects of the essential oil and extracts of Rosa × damascena in B16F10 murine melanoma cell line

Objectives

Rosa × damascena Herrm. belonging to the Rosaceae family has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects previously. Excessive production of free radicals and activation of tyrosinase enzyme caused by UV induces excessive concentration of melanin pigment and skin spots in the long term. Therefore, finding natural sources with anti-oxidant and antityrosinase effects helps to regulate the melanogenesis process. In the current research, we investigated the antimelanogenic, anti-oxidant, and anti-tyrosinase effects of its essential oil, methanol extract (MeOH), and different fractions including n-hexane, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), n-butanol (BuOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and H2O of R. × damascena in B16F10 cell line.

Materials and Methods

For this purpose, impacts of extracts and essential oil of R. × damascena were investigated on cell viability, cellular tyrosinase, melanin content, mushroom tyrosinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as the amount of tyrosinase protein in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line.

Results

Essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena were not cytotoxic on B16F10 cells. However, they had significant reducing effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and ROS production. Also, there is a significant decrease in tyrosinase protein levels at 200 µg/ml but not at other concentrations.

Conclusion

Therefore, the essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena had promising antimelanogenic activity via repression of mushroom tyrosinase activity and ROS production.