Title:Melanogenesis and Melanosome Transportation Modulators from Medicinal Plants
Volume: 13
Issue: 8
Author(s): Kosei Yamauchi and Tohru Mitsunaga
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Melanogenesis modulator, melanosome transportation modulator, medicinal plants, tyrosinase.
Abstract: Melanin is a pigment distributed in the human body. The excess accumulation of melanin
contents on skin surface induces mottling and freckles which are unfavorable for maintaining good
health and beauty. On the other hand, gray hair is caused by the decreasing of melanin production.
Hence, to maintain appropriate melanin level in human body is desired strongly. Melanin is biosynthesized
in melanosome in melanocyte by catalysis of tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1),
and TRP-2 from L-tyrosine as a starting material, and the mature melanosome is transported to the
keratinocytes or hair matrix cells by several kinds of related proteins, such as melanoregulin (Mreg),
EBP50-PDZ interactor of 64kDa (EPI64), Rab27A, Slac-2a, etc. The keratinocytes or hair matrix cells
accumulate melanosomes, and the skin or hair pigmentation is appeared by the differentiation of the cells. In order to
modulate the pigmentation of the tissue in human body, a number of melanogenesis modulating compounds have been
isolated and identified from medicinal plants as tyrosinase activity inhibitors and/or modulators on melanogenic enzymes
expressions. However, there are a few reports evaluating the effects of compounds on melanosome transportation which
influence the control of pigmentation. Therefore, search for the novel compounds modulating melanosome transportation
as well as modulating melanognesis is recently desired.
