Anti‐melanogenic effect of the ethanol extract of Commelina communis L. in melanoma cells (647.50)

Commelina communis Leded.., a annual plant, has been used as an antidiabetic, antioxidant and hypoglycemic agent in korea herbal medicine. We analyzed the anti‐melanogenic effects of ethanol extracts from Commelina communis Leded. (CCL) in B16F10 cells. CCL significantly reduced tyrosinase activity of the cells about 62.76±3.5% and 52.09±7.9% at concentrations of 12.5 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml, respectively. Also, melanin synthesis of cells was decreased with 66.11% and 52.30% by CCL, respectively. Tyrosinase gene and protein expressions were inhibited by the treatment with CCL. Moreover, CCL significantly reduced α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH)‐induced melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, also decreased α‐MSH‐induced expression of melanogenic enzyme like as tyrosinase, tyrosinase‐related protein (TRP)‐1 and TRP‐2. This results show that the anti‐melanogenic activity of CCL is correlated with the suppression of tyrosinase gene and protein expressions in B16F10 cells.