Lotus (Nelumbo nuficera) flower essential oil increased melanogenesis in normal human melanocytes.
10.3858/emm.2009.41.7.057
- Author:
Songhee JEON
1
;
Nan Hyung KIM
;
Byung Soo KOO
;
Ji Young KIM
;
Ai Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University School of Medicine, Goyang 410-773, Korea. leeay@duih.org
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
lotus;
melanins;
monophenol monooxygenase;
oils, volatile;
palmitic acid;
skin pigmentation
- MeSH:
Blotting, Western;
Cell Proliferation;
Cyclic AMP/metabolism;
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/genetics/metabolism;
Flowers/*chemistry;
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry;
Humans;
Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism;
Lotus/*chemistry;
Melanins/*biosynthesis;
Melanocytes/*drug effects/metabolism;
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/genetics/metabolism;
Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics/metabolism;
Phosphorylation;
Plant Oils/*pharmacology;
RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism;
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Skin/cytology/drug effects/metabolism
- From:Experimental & Molecular Medicine
2009;41(7):517-524
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
In this study, the essential oil from lotus flower extract, including petals and stamens, was assessed with regard to its effects on melanogenesis in human melanocytes. The lotus flower essential oil was shown to stimulate melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The lotus flower essential oil induced the expression of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor M (MITF-M), and tyrosinase-related proten-2 (TRP-2) proteins, but not tyrosinase mRNA. Moreover, it increased the phosphorylation of ERK and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). In order to verify the effective components of the lotus flower oil, its lipid composition was assessed. It was found to be comprised of palmitic acid methyl ester (22.66%), linoleic acid methyl ester (11.16%), palmitoleic acid methyl ester (7.55%) and linolenic acid methyl ester (5.16%). Among these components, palmitic acid methyl ester clearly induced melanogenesis as the result of increased tyrosinase expression, thereby indicating that it may play a role in the regulation of melanin content. Thus, our results indicate that lotus flower oil may prove useful in the development of gray hair prevention agents or tanning reagents.
