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Planta Med 2013; 79(03/04): 236-243
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328189
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lupenone from Erica multiflora Leaf Extract Stimulates Melanogenesis in B16 Murine Melanoma Cells through the Inhibition of ERK1/2 Activation

Myra O. Villareal
1   Alliance for Research on North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Junkyu Han
1   Alliance for Research on North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Kyoko Matsuyama
2   Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Yukiko Sekii
2   Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Abderrazek Smaoui
3   Technopole de Borj-Cedria-Centre de Biotechnologie, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
,
Hideyuki Shigemori
2   Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
,
Hiroko Isoda
1   Alliance for Research on North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 14 October 2012
revised 28 November 2012

accepted 27 December 2012

Publication Date:
13 February 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Hypopigmentation diseases are usually managed using UVB light which increases the patientsʼ risk for skin cancer. Here, we evaluated the melanogenesis stimulatory effects of leaf extracts of Erica multiflora, a medicinal plant from the Mediterranean region, and its active component, lup-20(29)-en-3-one, as possible therapeutic agents to address hypopigmentation disorders. B16 murine melanoma cells were treated with E. multiflora extracts or its active component lupenone to evaluate their effects on melanin biosynthesis. The mechanism underlying the observed effects was also determined. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of fifteen ethyl acetate fractions identified fraction 2 to have melanogenesis stimulatory effects due to its ability to decrease mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation. Preparative TLC of ethyl acetate fraction 2 revealed the presence of lup-20(29)-en-3-one as the major bioactive component. B16 cells treated with lup-20(29)-en-3-one increased melanin content without cytotoxicity. To determine the mechanism for the observed effects of lup-20(29)-en-3-one, the tyrosinase enzyme activity, the tyrosinase protein expression, and the activation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 were determined. In addition, the expression of the tyrosinase mRNA was quantified using real-time PCR. Results showed that lup-20(29)-en-3-one has no effect on the tyrosinase enzyme activity but can increase tyrosinase expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels. The increase in the tyrosinase mRNA expression was most likely due to the inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation. We report for the first time that E. multiflora ethyl acetate extract and its active compound lup-20(29)-en-3-one stimulate melanogenesis by increasing the tyrosinase enzyme expression via mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 phosphorylation inhibition, making it a possible treatment for hypopigmentation diseases.

Key words

Erica multiflora L. - Ericaceae - lupenone - B16 murine melanoma cells - melanogenesis - tyrosinase - pERK1/2
 

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