Anti-melanogenic effects of black, green, and white tea extracts on immortalized melanocytes

The neuroprotective effect of traditional Chinese medicinal plants-A critical review

Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are increasingly affecting individuals' quality of life, thus increasing their cost to social and health systems. These diseases have overlapping mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, neurotransmission impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction, and excitotoxicity. Currently, there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases, and the available therapies have adverse effects and low efficacy. For neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, the current therapies are not adequate to one-third of the patients, the so-called treatment-resistant patients. So, searching for new treatments is fundamental. Medicinal plants appear as a strong alternative and complement towards new treatment protocols, as they have been used for health purposes for thousands of years. Thus, the main goal of this review is to revisit the neuroprotective potential of some of the most predominant medicinal plants (and one fungus) used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), focusing on their proven mechanisms of action and their chemical compositions, to give clues on how they can be useful against neurodegeneration progression.

EGCG, GCG, TFDG, or TSA Inhibiting Melanin Synthesis by Downregulating MC1R Expression

Without affecting cell viability, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), theaflavine-3,3'-digallate (TFDG), or theasinensin A (TSA) have been found to effectively reduce intracellular melanin content and tyrosinase (TYR) activity. However, studies on the anti-melanogenic mechanism of the above samples remain weak, and the activities of these samples in regulating melanogenesis at the molecular level lack comparison. Using B16F10 cells with the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) stimulation and without the α-MSH stimulation as models, the effects of EGCG, GCG, TFDG, or TSA on cell phenotypes and expression of key targets related to melanogenesis were studied. The results showed that α-MSH always promoted melanogenesis with or without adding the four samples. Meanwhile, the anti-melanogenic activities of the four samples were not affected by whether the α-MSH was added in the medium or not and the added time of the α-MSH. On this basis, the 100 µg/mL EGCG, GCG, TFDG, or TSA did not affect the TYR catalytic activity but inhibited melanin formation partly through downregulating the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and the TYR family. The downregulation abilities of catechins on the TYR family and MITF expression were stronger than those of dimers at both the transcription and translation levels, while the ability of dimers to downregulate the MC1R expression was stronger than that of catechins at both the transcription and translation levels to some extent. The results of molecular docking showed that these four samples could stably bind to MC1R protein. Taken together, this study offered molecular mechanisms for the anti-melanogenic activity of the EGCG, GCG, TFDG, and TSA, as potential effective components against the UV-induced tanning reactions, and a key target (MC1R) was identified.

Biological and Cosmetical Importance of Fermented Raw Materials: An Overview

The cosmetics industry is currently looking for innovative ingredients with higher bioactivity and bioavailability for the masses of natural and organic cosmetics. Bioferments are innovative ingredients extracted from natural raw materials by carrying out a fermentation process with appropriate strains of microorganisms. The review was conducted using the SciFinder database with the keywords “fermented plant”, “cosmetics”, and “fermentation”. Mainly bioferments are made from plant-based raw materials. The review covers a wide range of fermented raw materials, from waste materials (whey with beet pulp) to plant oils (F-Shiunko, F-Artemisia, F-Glycyrrhiza). The spectrum of applications for bioferments is broad and includes properties such as skin whitening, antioxidant properties (blackberry, soybean, goji berry), anti-aging (red ginseng, black ginseng, Citrus unshiu peel), hydrating, and anti-allergic (aloe vera, skimmed milk). Fermentation increases the biochemical and physiological activity of the substrate by converting high-molecular compounds into low-molecular structures, making fermented raw materials more compatible compared to unfermented raw materials.

Comparative Study of Three Raspberry Cultivar (Rubus idaeus L.) Leaves Metabolites: Metabolome Profiling and Antioxidant Activities

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), known as one of the famous healthy fruits an d are consumed fresh or processed products all over the world. The antioxidation activity of raspberry fruits as well as leaves have been widely investigated. To better understand the metabolite accumulation mechanisms and to develop different functional cultivars, we performed a non-targeted metabolomics analysis using LC-MS/MS to investigate the contents of existing components from three raspberry cultivars, Autumn Britten, Autumn Bliss, and Red Autumn leaves, respectively. The results show multiple differentially accumulated metabolites among three cultivars, especially for the lipids (α-linolenic acid and eicosatetraenoic acid), amino acids and their derivatives (L-cysteine, Phenylalanine), flavonoids (Kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, Quercetin 3-glucoside), and vitamins (Biotin, Thiamine, Vitamin K2), etc. The in vitro cellular antioxidant activities of three raspberry cultivars leaves ethanol extracts (RLEE) were also characterized. Through comparison the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels before or after RLEE protection of L929 fibroblast cells upon excessive UVB exposure, we evaluated the antioxidation potentials for all three cultivar RLEEs. It turns out the raspberry Autumn Britten leaf extract holds the greatest potential for protecting the L929 fibroblast cells from UVB induced damage. Our study provides theoretical support for screening of active metabolites from three raspberry cultivars leaves, spanning metabolites’ accumulation to cell damage protection, which could be used to refine bioactivity assessment for different raspberry cultivars suitable for antioxidant products extraction.

Theaflavin Chemistry and Its Health Benefits

Huge epidemiological and clinical studies have confirmed that black tea is a rich source of health-promoting ingredients, such as catechins and theaflavins (TFs). Furthermore, TF derivatives mainly include theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin-3-gallate (TF2A), theaflavin-3'-gallate (TF2B), and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (TF3). All of these TFs exhibit extensive usages in pharmaceutics, foods, and traditional medication systems. Various indepth studies reported that how TFs modulates health effects in cellular and molecular mechanisms. The available literature regarding the pharmacological activities of TFs has revealed that TF3 has remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, antiosteoporotic, and antimicrobial properties, thus posing significant effects on human health. The current manuscript summarizes both the chemistry and various pharmacological effects of TFs on human health, lifestyle or aging associated diseases, and populations of gut microbiota. Furthermore, the biological potential of TFs has also been focused to provide a deeper understanding of its mechanism of action.

Skin hyperpigmentation and its treatment with herbs: an alternative method

Background

With an increasing number of patients, those who are facing a lot of skin-related complaints, often referred to as skin of pigmentation patients, are on the rise. Among all the most common complaints in patients with skin of color is hyperpigmentation. So, there is need of herbal formulation for treatment of hyperpigmentation.

Main body

This review article addresses the different types of hyperpigmentation, causes, and its treatment with herbs for the management of the skin hyperpigmentation. As uneven pigmentation of skin or hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition, which occurs when the skin produces more melanin. This can make spots or patches of skin appear darker than surrounding areas. Some forms of hyperpigmentation with post-inflammatory, melasma, and sun spots are more likely to affect areas of face, arms, and legs due to sun exposure and injury. Although the availability of multiple treatments for the condition which leads to some adverse effects, hyperpigmentation continues to present skin care management challenges for dermatologists.

Conclusion

Some plants and phytoconstituents, e.g., Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Panax ginseng and genistein, ellagic acids, quercetin, are very useful in herbal cosmetic as anti-hyperpigmentry agents in cosmetic industries. Some of flavonoids and triterpenoids present in plants also show their effect as antioxidant and skin whitening agents. It is expected that this review will compile and improve the existing knowledge on the potential utilization of herbs for the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation.

Anti-Pigmentary Natural Compounds and Their Mode of Action

Hyper-activated melanocytes are the major cause of skin hyper-pigmentary disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Increasing efforts have been made to search for materials with depigmenting activity to develop functional cosmetics. As a result, numerous materials have been reported to have depigmenting activity but some of them are known to cause unwanted side effects. Consequently, anti-pigmentary natural compounds without concern of toxicity are in great demand. Virtually all sorts of natural sources have been investigated to find anti-pigmentary natural compounds. This review summarizes recently reported anti-pigmentary natural compounds and their mode of action from the ocean, plants, and bacteria.

Research progress on the potential delaying skin aging effect and mechanism of tea for oral and external use

Skin aging is characterized by the gradual loss of elasticity, the formation of wrinkles and various color spots, the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, and the structural changes of the dermis. With the increasingly prominent problems of environmental pollution, social pressure, ozone layer thinning and food safety, skin problems have become more and more complex. The skin can reflect the overall health of the body. Skincare products for external use alone cannot fundamentally solve skin problems; it needs to improve the overall health of the body. Based on the literature review in recent 20 years, this paper systematically reviewed the potential delaying effect of tea and its active ingredients on skin aging by oral and external use. Tea is the second-largest health drink after water. It is rich in tea polyphenols, l-theanine, tea pigments, caffeine, tea saponins, tea polysaccharides and other secondary metabolites. Tea and its active substances have whitening, nourishing, anti-wrinkle, removing spots and other skincare effects. Its mechanism of action is ultraviolet absorption, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, inhibition of extracellular matrix aging, inhibiting the accumulation of melanin and toxic oxidation products, balancing intestinal and skin microorganisms, and improving mood and sleep, among other effects. At present, tea elements skincare products are deeply loved by consumers. This paper provides a scientific theoretical basis for tea-assisted beauty and the high-end application of tea in skincare products.

Distinct variation in taste quality of Congou black tea during a single spring season

The quality of Congou black tea fluctuates greatly with the changing seasons. However, variations in the taste quality of Congou black tea manufactured during a single spring season are far from clear. Here, we analyzed the taste quality of HuangJinCha (HJC) Congou black tea using sensory evaluation and found the taste quality of black tea manufactured in the early spring was better than that manufactured in the late spring. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis for the data from the electronic tongue confirmed the variation and revealed that April 4 may be the critical time point at which variations in taste quality become apparent. The contents of tea polyphenols (TP), total catechins (TC), total flavones, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and gallic acid (GA) showed increasing trends, whereas total amino acids (TAA) declined over time. Moreover, the variations in total amino acids (r = 0.846) and total flavones (r = - 0.858) were highly significantly correlated with the average taste quality score (p < .01), suggesting these compounds were the primary factors responsible for the fluctuation in taste quality of Congou black tea processed during a single spring season.

Activity of catechins and their applications

Background

Catechins, which are polyphenol compounds found in many plants and are an important component of tea leaves, are strong anti-oxidants.

Research

Many studies seek to enhance the effects of catechins on the human body and boost their protective power against UV radiation. There are many examples of the positive anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and anti-cancer effects of catechins. Catechins increase the penetration and absorption of healthy functional foods and bio cosmetics into the body and the skin, thus improving their utility. High value-added anti-oxidant substances have been extracted from food and plant sludge, and experiments have shown that catechins are safe when applied to the human body. The stability of catechins is very important for their absorption into the human body and the effectiveness of their anti-oxidant properties.

Conclusion

Continued research on the strong anti-oxidant effects of catechins is expected to result in many advances in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Tyrosinase-mediated dopamine polymerization modified magnetic alginate beads for dual-enzymes encapsulation: Preparation, performance and application

In this study, a simple and efficient method to obtain entrapment of mixtures of double enzymes is developed. As a proof of principle, double enzymes (tyrosinase (TYR) and β-glucosidase (β-Glu)) were co-immobilized in magnetic alginate-polydopamine (PDA) beads using in situ TYR-mediated dopamine polymerization and internal setting strategy-mediated magnetic alginate-PDA gelation. The leakage of enzymes from the magnetic alginate beads was significantly reduced by exploiting the double network cross-linking of alginate and PDA, which was induced by the d-(+)-Gluconic acid δ-lactone (GDL) and TYR, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the prepared magnetic alginate beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. After that, the enzymatic reaction conditions and the performance of the entrapped TYR and β-Glu, such as enzyme kinetics and inhibition kinetics, were investigated. The Michaelis-Menten constants (K_m) of the entrapped TYR and β-Glu were determined as 2.72 and 3.45 mM, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of kojic acid and castanospermine for the entrapped TYR and β-Glu were determined as 13.04 and 56.23 μM, respectively. Finally, the entrapped double enzymes magnetic alginate beads were successfully applied to evaluate the inhibitory potency of six kinds of tea polyphenols extracts. Black tea and white tea showed high inhibition activity against TYR were (36.14 ± 1.43)% and (36.76 ± 2.35)%, respectively, while the black tea and dark tea showed high inhibition activity against β-Glu were (37.89 ± 6.70)% and (21.28 ± 4.68)%, respectively.

Inhibitory mechanism of epicatechin gallate on tyrosinase: inhibitory interaction, conformational change and computational simulation

Epicatechin gallate can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase in a mixed-type manner.

Theaflavin-Enriched Fraction Stimulates Adipogenesis in Human Subcutaneous Fat Cells

Skin provides the first defense line against the environment while preserving physiological homeostasis. Subcutaneous tissues including fat depots that are important for maintaining skin structure and alleviating senescence are altered during aging. This study investigated whether theaflavin (TF) in green tea (GT) has skin rejuvenation effects. Specifically, we examined whether high ratio of TF contents can induce the subcutaneous adipogenesis supporting skin structure by modulating lipid metabolism. The co-fermented GT (CoF-GT) fraction containing a high level of TF was obtained by co-fermentation with garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium) and the conventionally fermented GT (F-GT) fraction was also obtained. The effects of the CoF- or F-GT fractions on adipogenesis were assessed using primary human subcutaneous fat cells (hSCF). Adipogenesis was evaluated based on lipid droplet (LD) formation, as visualized by Oil Red O staining; by analyzing of adipogenesis-related factors by real-time quantitative polyperase chain reaction (RT-qPCR); and by measuring the concentration of adiponectin released into the culture medium by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TF-enriched CoF-GT fraction did not adversely affect hSCF cell viability but induced their adipogenic differentiation, as evidenced by LD formation, upregulation of adipogenesis-related genes, and adiponectin secretion. TF and TF-enriched CoF-GT fraction promoted differentiation of hSCFs and can therefore be used as an ingredient in rejuvenating agents.

Six types of tea reduce high-fat-diet-induced fat accumulation in mice by increasing lipid metabolism and suppressing inflammation

A high-fat diet results in obesity because of white fat accumulation.

Characterization of sulfuretin as a depigmenting agent

Sulfuretin is a major flavonoid found in Rhus verniciflua and carries anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, but its potential use in the control of skin pigmentation is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate sulfuretin as a new active compound inhibiting melanogenesis and the underlying mechanism. The effects of sulfuretin on melanin production, tyrosinase activity, cAMP level, and MITF expression were examined in murine melanoma B16 cells challenged with forskolin or α-MSH. The inhibitory effect of sulfuretin on melanogenesis was further validated on neonatal human melanocytes. When tested in melanoma B16 cells treated with forskolin or α-MSH, sulfuretin inhibited the cellular melanogenesis. Sulfuretin also showed direct inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in vitro. In human primary melanocytes, the inhibitory effect of sulfuretin on melanin synthesis was also confirmed. Our current results support the depigmenting effect of sulfuretin and suggest a clinical strategy for using sulfuretin in the topical treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders.

Responses of Different Cancer Cells to White Tea Aqueous Extract

White tea from the eastern Chinese province of Fujian is a unique tea variety. Although the health effects of various teas have been investigated in recent years, most studies focused exclusively on green tea varieties. In order to study effects exerted by white tea from eastern Fujian on the viability of cancer cells, we analyzed its main bioactive ingredients. We also evaluated the antioxidant activity of white tea aqueous extract (WTAE) and employed MTT assay to evaluate effects of WTAE on viabilities of Hela and BEL-7402 cancer cell lines. Apoptosis rate detection was also applied to estimate efficacy of cellular apoptotic induction by WTAE in these two cells types. Results revealed that WTAE exhibited high antioxidant activity and inhibited effectively the proliferation of Hela and BEL-7402 cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of WTAE for Hela cells (0.05 mg/mL) was lower than that for BEL-7402 cells (0.1 mg/mL). Although WTAE induced apoptosis in both cell lines, pro-apoptotic effects were markedly more apparent in Hela cells. Our study demonstrated that WTAE inhibited proliferation of cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and that Hela cells were more sensitive to WTAE than BEL-7402 cells.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The aim of this study is to provide a new approach toward cancer prevention by consuming white tea, the properties of which may also be helpful in formulating novel anticancer therapeutics.

Antioxidative and Antimelanoma Effects of Various Tea Extracts via a Green Extraction Method

Tea (Camellia sinensis) contains high level of antioxidant elements and is a well-known beverage consumed worldwide. The purpose of this study is to compare different concentrations of green tea, black tea, oolong tea 861, oolong tea 732, and jasmine green tea. These five types of tea extracts were known to have antioxidative properties, reducing power, and metal ion chelating activity. The current study compared these five extracts in terms of their inhibiting effects on human malignant melanoma: A2058 and A375. To determine the cell viability between normal cell and malignant melanoma cells, an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the cytotoxic potential on human melanoma cells, with all tea extracts showing decreased cell viability with increasing tea extract concentrations. Cytotoxicity on HaCat (normal skin cells) showed no effect on the cell viabilities at lower concentrations of the tea extracts. These results suggest the antioxidative effect of five tea extracts that protect against oxidation and melanoma production, with green tea and jasmine green tea showing the lowest cell viability when tested against malignant melanoma cells.

Plant extracts and natural compounds used against UVB-induced photoaging

Skin is continuously exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UVB is an inherent component of sunlight that crosses the epidermis and reaches the upper dermis, leading to increased oxidative stress, activation of inflammatory response and accumulation of DNA damage among other effects. The increase in UVB radiation on earth due to the destruction of stratospheric ozone poses a major environmental threat to the skin, increasing the risk of damage with long-term consequences, such as photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Extracts from plants and natural compounds have been historically used in traditional medicine in the form of teas and ointments but the effect of most of these compounds has yet to be verified. Regarding the increasing concern of the population with issues related to quality of life and appearance, the cosmetic market for anti-aging and photoprotective products based on natural compounds is continuously growing, and there is increasing requirement of expansion on research in this field. In this review we summarized the most current and relevant information concerning plant extracts and natural compounds that are able to protect or mitigate the deleterious effects caused by photoaging in different experimental models.

Influence of brewing conditions on taste components in Fuding white tea infusions

BACKGROUND

White tea has received increasing attention of late as a result of its sweet taste and health benefits. During the brewing of white tea, many factors may affect the nutritional and sensory quality of the resulting infusions. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of various infusion conditions on the taste components of Fuding white tea, including infusion time, ratio of tea and water, number of brewing steps, and temperature.

RESULTS

Brewing conditions had a strong effect on the taste compound profile and sensory characteristics. The catechin, caffeine, theanine and free amino acid contents generally increased with increasing infusion time and temperature. Conditions comprising an infusion time of 7 min, a brewing temperature of 100 °C, a tea and water ratio of 1:30 or 1:40, and a second brewing step, respectively, were shown to obtain the highest contents of most compounds. Regarding tea sensory evaluation, conditions comprising an infusion time of 3 min, a brewing temperature of 100 °C, a tea and water ratio of 1:50, and a first brewing step, resulted in the highest sensory score for comprehensive behavior of color, aroma and taste.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study reveal differences in the contents of various taste compounds, including catechins, caffeine, theanine and free amino acids, with respect to different brewing conditions, and sensory scores also varied with brewing conditions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of water quality on the main components in Fuding white tea infusions

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water quality on the main components in Fuding white tea infusions, including catechins, caffeine, theanine and free amino acids. Pure, tap and spring water were tested, and water quality was found to have a distinct effect on the main compounds extracted. Pure water, which was weakly acidic and low in dissolved ions, achieved the highest catechin content, whereas caffeine and theanine, and amino acids, were higher in infusions made with spring and tap water, respectively. Sensory evaluation was performed to evaluate infusion colour, taste and aroma, and sensory quality was similarly influenced by water type, due primarily to differences in dissolved ions. Pure water was more suitable for brewing white tea with superior colour, aroma and taste.

Camellia sinensis L. Extract and Its Potential Beneficial Effects in Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Hepatotoxic, and Anti-Tyrosinase Activities

The aims of this study were to investigate the potential benefits of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-tyrosinase activities of a methanolic extract of fresh tea leaves (FTE) (Camellia sinensis L.). The antioxidant capacity was investigated using three different methods at different temperatures. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied in vitro by the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase assay. The anti-hepatotoxic effect was investigated in CCl₄-induced liver injury in rats. The anti-tyrosinase activities of the FTE and its principal phenolic compounds were investigated in l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) oxidation by a mushroom tyrosinase. A molecular docking study was conducted to determine how the FTE’s principal catechins interact with the tyrosinase. The FTE exhibited the best shelf life at low temperatures and demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-tyrosinase effects compared to positive references. Treatment of rats with the FTE at 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 consecutive days reversed CCl₄-induced oxidative damage in hepatic tissues by lowering the levels of alanine aminotransferase by 69% and malondialdehyde by 90%. Our findings suggest that the FTE has the capacity to scavenge free radicals and can protect against oxidative stress induced by CCl₄ intoxication. The docking results were consistent with our in vitro data, indicating the anti-tyrosinase potency of the principal catechins.

Antioxidant Activity and Anti-wrinkle Effects of Aceriphyllum rossii Leaf Ethanol Extract

We evaluated the antioxidant activity and anti-wrinkle effects of Aceriphyllum rossii leaf ethanol extract (ARLEE) in vitro using human dermal fibroblasts. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of ARLEE were 578.6 and 206.3 mg/g, respectively. At a concentration of 250 μg/mL, the electron-donating ability of ARLEE was 87.1%. In comparison with the vehicle, ARLEE treatment at 100 μg/mL significantly increased type I procollagen synthesis (p < 0.01) by 50.7%. In vitro ARLEE treatment (10 mg/mL) inhibited collagenase and elastase activity by 97.1% and 99.2%, respectively. Compared with the control, ascorbic acid treatment at 100 μg/mL significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 protein expression (p < 0.01) by 37.0%. ARLEE treatment at 50 μg/mL significantly decreased MMP-1 protein expression (p < 0.01) by 46.1%. Ascorbic acid and ARLEE treatments at 100 μg/mL significantly decreased MMP-1 mRNA expression (p < 0.01) by 26.1% and 36.1%, respectively. From these results, we conclude that ARLEE has excellent antioxidant activity and even better anti-wrinkle effects than ascorbic acid in human dermal fibroblasts. These results suggest that ARLEE could be used in functional cosmetics for the prevention or alleviation of skin wrinkles induced by ultraviolet rays.